Fishery Management Report No Fishery Management Report for Sport Fisheries in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area, 2014

Transcription

1 Fishery Management Report No Fishery Management Report for Sport Fisheries in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area, 2014 by Brendan Scanlon Alaska Department of Fish and Game December 2015 Divisions of Sport Fish and Commercial Fisheries

2 Symbols and Abbreviations The following symbols and abbreviations, and others approved for the Système International d'unités (SI), are used without definition in the following reports by the Divisions of Sport Fish and of Commercial Fisheries: Fishery Manuscripts, Fishery Data Series Reports, Fishery Management Reports, and Special Publications. All others, including deviations from definitions listed below, are noted in the text at first mention, as well as in the titles or footnotes of tables, and in figure or figure captions. Weights and measures (metric) centimeter deciliter gram hectare kilogram kilometer liter meter milliliter millimeter cm dl g ha kg km L m ml mm Weights and measures (English) cubic feet per second ft 3 /s foot ft gallon gal inch in mile mi nautical mile nmi ounce oz pound lb quart qt yard yd Time and temperature day d degrees Celsius C degrees Fahrenheit F degrees kelvin K hour h minute min second s Physics and chemistry all atomic symbols alternating current ampere calorie direct current hertz horsepower hydrogen ion activity (negative log of) parts per million parts per thousand volts watts AC A cal DC Hz hp ph ppm ppt, V W General Alaska Administrative Code all commonly accepted abbreviations AAC e.g., Mr., Mrs., AM, PM, etc. all commonly accepted professional titles e.g., Dr., Ph.D., R.N., etc. compass directions: east E north N south S west W copyright corporate suffixes: Company Co. Corporation Corp. Incorporated Inc. Limited Ltd. District of Columbia D.C. et alii (and others) et al. et cetera (and so forth) etc. exempli gratia (for example) e.g. Federal Information Code FIC id est (that is) i.e. latitude or longitude lat or long monetary symbols (U.S.) $, months (tables and figures): first three letters Jan,...,Dec registered trademark trademark United States (adjective) U.S. United States of America (noun) USA U.S.C. United States Code U.S. state use two-letter abbreviations (e.g., AK, WA) Mathematics, statistics all standard mathematical signs, symbols and abbreviations alternate hypothesis H A base of natural logarithm e catch per unit effort CPUE coefficient of variation CV common test statistics (F, t, χ 2, etc.) confidence interval CI correlation coefficient (multiple) R correlation coefficient (simple) r covariance cov degree (angular ) degrees of freedom df expected value E greater than > greater than or equal to harvest per unit effort HPUE less than < less than or equal to logarithm (natural) ln logarithm (base 10) log logarithm (specify base) log 2, etc. minute (angular) ' not significant NS null hypothesis H O percent % probability P probability of a type I error (rejection of the null hypothesis when true) α probability of a type II error (acceptance of the null hypothesis when false) β second (angular) " standard deviation SD standard error SE variance population Var sample var

3 FISHERY MANAGEMENT REPORT NO FISHERY MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR SPORT FISHERIES IN THE NORTHWEST/NORTH SLOPE MANAGEMENT AREA, 2014 by Brendan Scanlon Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska, December 2015

4 The Fishery Management Reports series was established in 1989 by the Division of Sport Fish for the publication of an overview of management activities and goals in a specific geographic area, and became a joint divisional series in 2004 with the Division of Commercial Fisheries. Fishery Management Reports are intended for fishery and other technical professionals, as well as lay persons. Fishery Management Reports are available through the Alaska State Library and on the Internet: This publication has undergone regional peer review. Brendan Scanlon, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK , USA This document should be cited as follows: Scanlon, B Fishery management report for sport fisheries in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No , Anchorage. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility please write: ADF&G ADA Coordinator, P.O. Box , Juneau, AK U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042, Arlington, VA Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW MS 5230, Washington DC The department s ADA Coordinator can be reached via phone at the following numbers: (VOICE) , (Statewide Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) , (Juneau TDD) , or (FAX) For information on alternative formats and questions on this publication, please contact: ADF&G Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage AK (907)

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES...iii LIST OF FIGURES...iii LIST OF APPENDICES...iii ABSTRACT... 1 INTRODUCTION... 1 Alaska Board of Fisheries... 3 Advisory Committees... 3 Recent Board of Fisheries Actions... 3 ADF&G Emergency Order Authority... 4 Federal Subsistence... 4 Region III Division of Sport Fish Research and Management Staffing... 5 Statewide Harvest Survey... 5 Sport Fish Guide Licensing and Logbook Program... 6 SECTION I: NORTHWEST/NORTH SLOPE MANAGEMENT AREA OVERVIEW... 7 Management Area Description and Fisheries Resources... 7 Norton Sound/Seward Peninsula Subarea... 7 Kotzebue Sound/Chukchi Sea Subarea... 8 North Slope Area... 8 Commercial Fisheries... 9 Subsistence Fisheries Established Management Plans and Policies Major Issues for the Northwest/North Slope Management Area Access Program Information and Education Sport Fishing Effort, harvest, and Catch SECTION II: MAJOR NORTHWESTERN AND NORTH SLOPE AREA FISHERIES Northwestern Alaska Salmon Fisheries Unalakleet River Salmon Fisheries Background and Historical Perspective Recent Fishery Performance Fishery Objectives and Management Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Recent Board of Fisheries Actions Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities Nome Area Roadside Salmon Fisheries Background and Historical Perspective Recent Fishery Performance Fishery Objectives and Management Current Issues Recent Board of Fisheries Actions Current and Recommended Research and Management Activities Northwestern Alaska Dolly Varden and Arctic Char Background and Historical Perspective Recent Fishery Performance i

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Fishery Objectives and Management Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Recent Board of Fisheries Actions Current and Recommended Research and Management Activities Northwestern Alaska Arctic Grayling Background and Historical Perspective Recent Fishery Performance Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound Subarea Kotzebue Subarea Fishery Objectives and Management Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Recent Board of Fisheries Actions Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities Kotzebue Sound Sheefish Background and Historical Perspective Recent Fishery Performance Fishery Objectives and Management Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Recent Board of Fisheries and Management Actions Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities North Slope Dolly Varden and Arctic Char Background and Historical Perspective Recent Fishery Performance Fishery Objectives and Management Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Recent Board of Fisheries Actions Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities ACKNOWLEDGMENTS REFERENCES CITED TABLES AND FIGURES APPENDICIES ii

7 Table LIST OF TABLES Page 1. Commercial salmon and Dolly Varden harvest from the Norton Sound and Kotzebue districts, Salmon escapement goals and documented salmon escapements in Norton Sound, Subsistence salmon harvest in the Norton Sound, Port Clarence, and Kotzebue Districts, Sport fishing effort (angler-days) by major fisheries and subareas in the NW/NSMA, Sport fish harvest by species in the NW/NSMA, Sport fish catch by species in the NW/NSMA, Chinook salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Coho salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Pink salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Chum salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Dolly Varden and Arctic char sport harvest in the NW/NSMA by subarea and river, Dolly Varden and Arctic char sport catch in the NW/NSMA by subarea and river, Aerial counts of Dolly Varden spawning in the Noatak River and overwintering in the Wulik and Kivalina rivers, Arctic grayling sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Arctic grayling sport harvest and catch in the Kotzebue Sound/Chukchi Sea subarea, Sport fish harvest and catch of sheefish from Northwest Alaska, Sport fishing effort, catch, and harvest of lake trout, Dolly Varden/Arctic char, and Arctic grayling in the North Slope subarea, Figure LIST OF FIGURES Page 1. Map of the sport fish regions in Alaska and the 5 Region III management areas The Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea Major drainages of Southern Norton Sound Southern Seward Peninsula with road accessible waters Kotzebue Sound/Chukchi Sea subarea North Slope subarea Commercial salmon fishing subdistricts in Norton Sound and Port Clarence Kotzebue commercial salmon fishing district Appendix LIST OF APPENDICES Page A1. NW/NSMA sport fish emergency orders issued during B1. Addresses and contact numbers for information sources regarding NW/NSMA iii

8 iv

9 ABSTRACT This report presents sport fisheries season summaries for 2014 and preliminary information for 2015 in the Northwest/North Ssiglope Management Area. The Northwest/North Slope Management Area (NW/NSMA) consists of all waters north of the Yukon River drainage in Norton Sound, the Seward Peninsula, Kotzebue Sound (including the major drainages of the Kobuk and Noatak rivers), and all north-draining waters of the Brooks Range east to the Canadian border. Sport and subsistence fisheries target Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, coho O. kisutch, chum O. keta, and pink salmon O. gorbuscha, Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma, sheefish Stenduous leucichthys, Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus, and northern pike Esox lucius. In 2014, angler-days totaled 9,542, with the largest proportion (0.80) coming from the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound fisheries. Pink salmon was the predominant sport species harvested in 2014, with 4,603 fish taken, followed by coho salmon (3,378) and chum salmon (990). Summaries of major sport, commercial, and subsistence fisheries within the NW/NSMA are detailed, including descriptions of recent performances, Alaska Board of Fisheries regulatory actions, social and biological issues, and descriptions of ongoing research and management activities. Key Words: Northwest Alaska, Norton Sound, Kotzebue, Unalakleet, North Slope, sport fisheries, subsistence, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon, Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, sheefish. INTRODUCTION This area management report provides information regarding the Northwest/North Slope Management Area (NW/NSMA) and is 1 in a series of reports annually updating fisheries management information within Region III.. The report is provided for the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF), Fish and Game Advisory Committees (ACs), the general public, and other interested parties. It presents fisheries assessment information and the management strategies that are developed from that information. In addition, this report includes a description of a wide variety of information concerning Division of Sport Fish management programs within the area, including the fisheries regulatory process; the geographic, administrative, and regulatory boundaries; and funding sources. The goals of the Division of Sport Fish of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) are to protect and improve the state s recreational fisheries resources by managing for sustainable yield of wild stocks of sport fish, providing diverse recreational fishing opportunities, and providing information to assist the BOF in optimizing social and economic benefits from recreational fisheries. In order to implement these goals, the division has established a fisheries management process. A regional review is conducted annually, during which the status of important area fisheries is considered and research needs are identified. Fisheries stock assessment projects are developed, scheduled, and implemented to meet information needs identified by fisheries managers. Projects are planned within a formal operational planning process. Biological information gathered from these research projects is combined with effort information and input from user groups to assess the need for and development of fisheries management plans and to propose regulatory strategies. Division of Sport Fish management and research activities are funded by ADF&G and Federal Aid in Fisheries Restoration funds. ADF&G funds are derived from the sale of state fishing licenses. Federal aid funds are derived from federal taxes on fishing tackle and equipment that were established by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (also referred to as the Dingell-Johnson Act or D J Act). The D J funds are provided to states at a match of up to 3-to-1 with the ADF&G funds. Additional funding specified for providing, protecting, and managing 1

10 access to fish and game is provided through a tax on boat gas and equipment established by the Wallop Breaux (W B) Act. Other peripheral funding sources may include contracts with various government agencies and the private sector. This area management report provides information regarding the NW/NSMA and its fisheries for 2014, with preliminary information from the 2015 season. This report is organized into 2 primary sections. The first is a management area overview, including a description of the NW/NSMA and a summary of effort, harvest, and catch for the area. The second section discusses significant area fisheries, including specific harvest and catch by species and drainage. The BOF divides the state into 18 regulatory areas to organize the sport fishing regulatory system by drainage and fishery. These areas (different from regional management areas) are described in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code Chapters The Division of Sport Fish of ADF&G divides the state into 3 administrative regions with boundaries roughly corresponding to groups of the BOF regulatory areas. Region I covers Southeast Alaska (the Southeast Alaska regulatory area). Region II covers portions of Southcentral and Southwest Alaska (including the Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula, Kenai River Drainage, Cook Inlet-Resurrection Bay Saltwater, Anchorage Bowl Drainages, Knik Arm Drainages, Susitna River Drainage, West Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Bristol Bay, and the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands regulatory areas). Region III includes Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River area and the Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim Region (including the North Slope, Northwestern, Yukon River, Tanana River, and Kuskokwim-Goodnews regulatory areas). Region III is the largest geographic region, encompassing the majority of the landmass of the state of Alaska (Figure 1). The region contains over 442,500 mi 2 (1,146,000 km 2 ) of land, some of the state s largest river systems (Yukon, Kuskokwim, Colville, Noatak, Upper Copper, and Upper Susitna river drainages), thousands of lakes, thousands of miles of coastline, and streams. Regional coastline boundaries extend from Cape Newenham in the southwest, around all of western, northwestern, and northern Alaska to the Canadian border on the Arctic Ocean. Region III as a whole is very sparsely populated, with the most densely populated area located in the Tanana River Valley. Fairbanks is the largest community, with a population of about 35,000; the population of the greater Fairbanks North Star Borough is about 99,000. For administrative purposes, the Division of Sport Fish has divided Region III into 5 fisheries management areas (Figure 1): Northwestern/North Slope Management Area (Norton Sound, Seward Peninsula, Kotzebue Sound, and North Slope drainages), Yukon Management Area (the Yukon River drainage except for the Tanana River drainage), Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Management Area (the Copper River drainage upstream of Canyon Creek and Haley Creek, and the Susitna River drainage above the Oshetna River), Tanana River Management Area (the Tanana River drainage), and Kuskokwim Management Area (the entire Kuskokwim River drainage and Kuskokwim Bay drainages). 2

11 Area management biologists for the 5 areas are located in Nome/Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Glennallen, Fairbanks/Delta Junction, and Bethel/Fairbanks, respectively. ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES The BOF is a 7-member board that sets fishery regulations and harvest levels, allocates fishery resources, and approves or mandates fishery conservation plans for the State of Alaska. BOF members are appointed by the governor for 3-year terms and must be confirmed by the legislature. Under the current operating schedule, the BOF considers fishery issues for regulatory areas or groups of regulatory areas on a 3-year cycle. Proposals to create new or modify existing regulations and management plans are submitted by ADF&G and the public (any individual can submit a proposal to the BOF) for evaluation by the BOF. During its deliberations the BOF receives input and testimony through oral and written reports from ADF&G staff, members of the general public, representatives of local ACs, and special interest groups such as fishing associations and clubs. Members of the public can respond to regulation changes and allocation by submitting written proposals and testifying directly to the BOF, by participating in local AC meetings, or by becoming members of local ACs. ADVISORY COMMITTEES Local ACs have been established throughout the state to assist the Boards of Fisheries and Game in assessing proposed regulation changes and fisheries and wildlife issues. AC meetings allow opportunity for direct public interaction with ADF&G staff attending the meetings, where they are available to answer questions and provide clarification of proposed regulatory changes that affect resource issues of local and statewide concern. The Board Support Section within ADF&G s Division of Administrative Services provides administrative and logistical support for the BOF and ACs. During 2014, ADF&G had direct support responsibilities for 84 ACs in the state. Within the NW/NSMA, there are 9 ACs: the Arctic, Kotzebue, Lower Kobuk, Noatak/Kivalina, Northern Norton Sound, Northern Seward Peninsula, St. Lawrence Island, Southern Norton Sound, and Upper Kobuk committees. In addition, ACs from the Yukon River drainage occasionally comment on proposals concerning Northwest fisheries. RECENT BOARD OF FISHERIES ACTIONS The BOF meets annually but deliberates on each individual regulatory area on a 3-year cycle. The most recent meeting for the NW/NSMA took place in January 2013 in Anchorage. At this meeting, the BOF adopted a proposal reopening the sport fishery for chum salmon in most of the Nome Subdistrict. This subdistrict includes all marine and fresh waters between Cape Rodney and Topkok Head. The exceptions within the subdistrict were the Penny and Cripple rivers, which remained closed to sport fishing for chum salmon. At the January 2010 meeting, the BOF adopted a housekeeping proposal involving the NW/NSMA. This proposal aligned the sport fish regulatory boundaries for the Yukon River, Northwestern, and North Slope management areas with the subsistence and commercial regulatory areas. This action did not change any specific drainage regulations; however, because the background regulations for all species in these areas were the same. 3

12 ADF&G EMERGENCY ORDER AUTHORITY ADF&G has emergency order (EO) authority (5 AAC ) to modify time, area, and bag/possession limit regulations. EOs are implemented to deal with conservation issues for resident species. EOs are also implemented as a tool for inseason management of salmon fisheries. Inseason management is usually carried out in accordance with a fisheries management plan approved by the BOF. EOs issued under this authority for the NW/NSMA during 2014 are summarized in Appendix A. FEDERAL SUBSISTENCE The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) established a priority subsistence use of fish and game for federally qualified rural residents on lands and waters for which the federal government asserts jurisdiction. The State of Alaska has also established a priority for subsistence use of fish and game by Alaska residents (AS ) on all lands and waters but cannot discriminate between rural and urban residents (Alaska State Constitution Article VIII, Sections 3 and 15). Because of this difference, the federal government asserted authority to ensure a priority subsistence use of fish and game for rural residents on federal lands and certain adjacent waters. On October 1, 1999, the federal government asserted regulatory authority for assuring the rural priority for subsistence fisheries on federal public lands, which includes nonnavigable waters on public lands. Following the State of Alaska v. Katie John decision by the Ninth Circuit Court in 1995, the federal government expanded the definition of public land to include waters for which the federal agencies assert federal reserved water rights. Under current practice, the federal land-management agencies adopt regulations to provide for the priority subsistence use by qualified rural residents in nonnavigable waters within federal public lands (including Bureau of Land Management [BLM] lands) and in navigable waters adjacent to or within federal conservation system units (generally does not include BLM lands). The state retains all other fish and wildlife management authorities, including management on federal land. Development of regulations for subsistence fisheries under the federal subsistence program occurs within the established Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) process. The public provides input concerning regulation changes by testifying in Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (RAC) meetings or by becoming council members. Ten RACs have been established throughout Alaska to assist the FSB in determining local subsistence issues and providing recommendations on proposed fishing and hunting regulations that affect the fish and game populations under consideration. Each RAC meets twice a year, and subsistence users and other members of the public can comment on subsistence issues at these meetings. Within the NW/NSMA, the subsistence fisheries for which the federal government asserts management responsibility include those within and adjacent to the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Gates of the Arctic National Park, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Unalakleet Wild and Scenic River (wild classification only) is under federal fisheries management, but only from the headwaters down to the Chiroskey River. In addition, portions of the Kobuk, Noatak, Salmon, and Selawik rivers are designated as Wild and Scenic Rivers (wild classification only). The NW/NSMA fisheries fall under the purview of the Seward Peninsula, Northwest, and North Slope RACs. The most recent meetings were held in March (North Slope RAC and Northwest 4

13 RAC), and April 2015 (Seward Peninsula RAC). No fisheries-related proposals were addressed by the RACs in However, at the 2008 Seward Peninsula RAC meeting, that council supported a proposal to close the federal public waters of the Unalakleet River drainage (upstream from the mouth of the Chiroskey River, or approximately 23 river miles from the village) to the taking of Chinook salmon, in response to concerns regarding the harvesting of Chinook salmon on the spawning grounds. The RAC s recommendation of support was forwarded to the FSB, and the proposal was adopted by the FSB in March A listing of the addresses and telephone numbers for these federal management units can be found in Appendix B. REGION III DIVISION OF SPORT FISH RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT STAFFING The Region III Division of Sport Fish staff biologists are organized into a research group and a management group. The management group consists of a management supervisor, an area biologist for each of the 5 management areas, 1 or more assistant area management biologists, and 2 stocked-waters biologists. Area biologists evaluate fisheries and propose and implement management strategies through plans and regulation in order to meet divisional goals. A critical part of these positions consists of interaction with the BOF, ACs, and the general public. Stocked-waters biologists plan and implement the regional stocking program for recreational fisheries. The regional management supervisor also supervises the regional fishing and boating access program. The research group consists of a research supervisor, a salmon research supervisor, a resident species supervisor, research biologists, and various field technicians. Research biologists plan and implement fisheries research projects in order to provide information needed by the management group to meet divisional goals. The duties of the management and research biologists augment one another. STATEWIDE HARVEST SURVEY Sport fishing effort and harvest of sport fish species in Alaska have been estimated and reported annually since 1977 using a mail survey ( The Statewide Harvest Survey (SWHS) is designed to provide estimates of effort, harvest, and catch on a site-by-site basis. It is not designed to provide estimates of effort directed toward a single species. Species-specific catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) information can seldom be derived from the report. Questionnaires are mailed to a stratified random sample of households containing at least 1 individual with a valid fishing license (resident or non-resident). Information gathered from the survey includes participation (number of anglers and days fished), number of fish caught, and number harvested by species and site. These surveys estimate the number of angler-days of fishing effort expended by sport anglers fishing in Alaska waters, as well as the sport harvest. Beginning in 1990, the survey was modified to include estimation of catch (release plus harvest) on a site-by-site basis. Survey results for each year are available the following year; hence, the results for 2014 were available in fall Additionally, creel surveys have been used to verify the mail survey for fisheries of interest or for fisheries that require more detailed information or inseason management. The utility of SWHS estimates depends on the number of responses received for a given site (Mills and Howe 1992; Clark 2009). In general, estimates from smaller fisheries with low 5

14 participation are less precise than those of larger fisheries with high participation. Therefore, the following guidelines were implemented for evaluating survey data: 1. Estimates based on fewer than 12 responses should not be used other than to document that sport fishing occurred; 2. Estimates based on 12 to 29 responses can be useful in indicating relative orders of magnitude and for assessing long-term trends; and, 3. Estimates based on 30 or more responses are generally representative of levels of fishing effort, catch, and harvest. For purposes of reporting and organizing statistics in the SWHS, the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound, Northwest Alaska, and North Slope areas are designated as survey areas W, X, and Z. SPORT FISH GUIDE LICENSING AND LOGBOOK PROGRAM Since 1998, the Division of Sport Fish has operated a program to register and/or license both sport fishing guides and sport fishing guide businesses, and to collect information on sport fishing participation, effort, and harvest by saltwater and freshwater guided clients (Sigurdsson and Powers 2009). In 1998, the BOF adopted statewide sport fishing guide regulations (5 AAC ) that required all sport fishing guides and businesses to register annually with ADF&G. At this time, the BOF also adopted statewide regulations that required logbooks for saltwater charter vessels. Logbooks collect information on charter activity (location, effort, and harvest) necessary for the BOF for allocation and management decisions specific to Chinook salmon, rockfish Sebastes spp., and lingcod Ophiodon elongatus and for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) for allocation of Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis. In 2004, the Alaska Legislature adopted House Bill 452, which established licensing requirements for sport fishing guide business owners and sport fishing guides on a statewide basis (effective 2005). This legislation also required logbook reporting for all freshwater guiding businesses, in addition to the existing saltwater reporting requirements. The logbook data provide location of fishing effort, level of participation, and number of species kept and released by clients. This information is used for the regulation, development, and management of fisheries and has been published annually since 2009 (data since 2006) in a Fishery Data Series report (Sigurdsson and Powers In prep). For the years , a total of 8,189 guided anglers fished in the NW/NSMA, with the largest percentage fishing in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound area (83%). The total number of guided anglers that have fished the NW/NSMA is less than 1% of the statewide total for (1,113,838 anglers; Sigurdsson and Powers In prep). 6

15 SECTION I: NORTHWEST/NORTH SLOPE MANAGEMENT AREA OVERVIEW MANAGEMENT AREA DESCRIPTION AND FISHERIES RESOURCES The NW/NSMA includes all waters north of the Yukon River drainage in Norton Sound, the Seward Peninsula, Kotzebue Sound (including the major drainages of the Kobuk and Noatak rivers), and all north-draining waters of the Brooks Range east to the Canadian border (Figures 2 6). The total land area consists of approximately 147,992 mi 2 (383,301 km 2 ). Located within the NW/NSMA are the communities of Barrow, Point Hope, Kivalina, Noatak, Kotzebue, Noorvik, Kiana, Ambler, Shungnak, Kobuk, Selawik, Buckland, Deering, Shishmaref, Nome, Teller, Brevig Mission, White Mountain, Golovin, Elim, Koyuk, Shaktoolik, Unalakleet, St. Michael, and Stebbins. Access to most of the communities and water bodies is limited to aircraft or boat. Three roads emanating from Nome provide access to surrounding communities and drainages; Teller (Nome Teller Highway), the Kuzitrin River drainage (Nome Taylor Highway), and Council (Nome Council Road; Niukluk Fish river drainages). Fish species present in the NW/NSMA include anadromous Dolly Varden; Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, and pink salmon; Bering cisco; and humpback whitefish. Also present are freshwater-resident Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, Arctic char, northern pike, sheefish, round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum, least cisco C. sardinella, humpback whitefish C. pidschian, broad whitefish C. nasus, burbot Lota lota, and lake trout S. namaycush. Norton Sound/Seward Peninsula Subarea Drainages in southern Norton Sound (Figure 3) include the Golsovia, Unalakleet, Egavik, Shaktoolik, Inglutalik, Ungalik, and Koyuk rivers. All but the Koyuk River drain the Nulato Hills, which separate Norton Sound from the Yukon and Koyukuk river valleys. Of these, the Unalakleet River is the largest and most heavily utilized. The village of Unalakleet is located at the mouth of this river. The Unalakleet River has been designated a National Wild River, and it supports anadromous populations of Dolly Varden; Chinook, coho, chum, and pink salmon; and resident populations of Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, and whitefishes. Other area streams provide the opportunity for high-quality fisheries for the same species but are not as intensively fished because of their remote nature and difficult access. Many streams located along the southern half of the Seward Peninsula between Koyuk and Teller (Figure 4), including the Fish, Niukluk, Eldorado, Nome, Snake, Sinuk, Feather, Tisuk, Pilgrim, and Kuzitrin rivers, are accessible via the Nome road system and offer sport fishing opportunity for Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, salmon, and northern pike (northern pike are found in the Fish, Pilgrim, and Kuzitrin rivers). Small sockeye salmon runs have historically occurred in the Pilgrim and Sinuk rivers, although these runs increased markedly from Based on counting-tower and weir information, a few remnant late-run sockeye salmon are present in other locations in Norton Sound. Chinook salmon are present in the Pilgrim, Niukluk, and Fish rivers. Trophy Arctic grayling, larger than 3 lbs (1.4 kg), are present in many Seward Peninsula waters. The state record Arctic grayling (5 lb 3 oz) was caught and released from the Fish River drainage in Remote streams such as the Koyuk, Tubutulik, Kwiniuk, and Agiapuk rivers are accessible by aircraft or boat from nearby villages. These rivers 7

16 receive little sport fishing effort but provide opportunity for remote high-quality fisheries. Scanlon and DeCicco (2007) provide more detail on these fisheries and other remote systems. Kotzebue Sound/Chukchi Sea Subarea Major drainages flowing into Kotzebue Sound and Chukchi Sea include the Selawik, Kobuk, Noatak, Wulik, Kivalina, and Buckland rivers (Figure 5). The Noatak River is a National Wild River and most of the drainage is included in the Noatak National Preserve (Figure 5). The extreme upper headwaters of both the Noatak and Kobuk rivers are included in Gates of the Arctic National Park. A portion of the Lower Kobuk Valley, between the villages of Kiana and Ambler, is included in the Kobuk Valley National Park. The Salmon River, the upper mainstem of the Kobuk River, and the Selawik River are also National Wild Rivers. Much of the Selawik River valley is part of the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. The Noatak River drainage supports resident populations of whitefish, Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, lake trout, burbot, and northern pike. Sheefish use the lower reaches of the river for feeding during the spring but are not known to spawn there (Alt 1987). This system is known for its trophy-size Dolly Varden. Many thousands of anadromous Dolly Varden overwinter in the lower 200 miles (300 km) of the river and spawn in some of the river s tributary streams. The Noatak River produces a large run of chum salmon that contributes to a Kotzebue-based commercial fishery. During the commercial salmon fishery in August, a significant incidental harvest of adult Dolly Varden can occur. The Kobuk River contains the largest spawning population of sheefish in Northwestern Alaska. Sheefish migrate more than 300 miles to spawn in the upper reaches of the drainage. Hotham Inlet, Selawik Lake, and the delta system at the river s mouth serve as winter feeding areas for juvenile and adult sheefish. The Alaska state record sheefish, 53 lb, was taken in 1986 from the Upper Kobuk River. Abundant numbers of whitefish utilize the river, as well as Selawik Lake and Hotham Inlet (known locally as Kobuk Lake). Whitefish support important subsistence fisheries in villages along the river. Dolly Varden, northern pike, Arctic grayling, burbot, lake trout, and Arctic char inhabit various parts of the Kobuk River watershed. The Selawik River also supports a spawning population of sheefish that shares rearing and winter feeding areas with the Kobuk River population. Sheefish in both populations grow more slowly, live longer, and attain a larger size than those in other areas of Alaska (Alt 1987). The Selawik River drainage and associated wetlands provide abundant habitat for whitefish and northern pike. Other important waters include the Wulik and Kivalina rivers that drain into the Chukchi Sea near the village of Kivalina. These drainages provide rearing, spawning, and wintering habitat for diadromous Chukchi Sea Dolly Varden. The Alaska state record Dolly Varden, 27 lb 6 oz, was taken in 2002 from the Wulik River. All 5 species of North American Pacific salmon, Arctic grayling, burbot, and whitefish occur in these relatively small drainages. With the exception of chum salmon in the Wulik River, most populations of these other species are small. North Slope Area The North Slope of the Brooks Range (Figure 6) includes all waters north of the Brooks Range flowing into the Beaufort and Chukchi seas from Point Hope on the west to the Canadian border on the east, including adjacent saltwater areas. Major drainages in this area include the Colville, Sagavanirktok, Canning, and Kuparuk rivers. These drainages provide rearing, spawning, and wintering habitat for diadromous Beaufort Sea Dolly Varden. The state s third largest lake, 8

17 Teshekpuk Lake, is found on the coastal plain, as are thousands of smaller lakes. Most of these lakes are inaccessible by road and too shallow to support fish populations, but there are dozens of lakes that contain lake trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and burbot. These populations are generally slow-growing and are able to support only minimal harvests. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES Although small when compared to the major commercial fisheries in Southeast and Southwest Alaska, the commercial fisheries in Northwest Alaska form an economic base for income and employment in many local communities. Commercial harvests of salmon, herring, halibut, and crab are usually much larger than sport harvests for those species (except on the North Slope, where currently there are no commercial fisheries for salmon, and consequently all references to commercial fisheries in this report refer to those in Norton and Kotzebue sounds). In addition, extremely limited commercial fisheries exist for freshwater species such as sheefish, Dolly Varden, and whitefish. Commercial fisheries for salmon in the Norton Sound District have been ongoing since The initial species of interest were Chinook and coho salmon, but commercial fisheries have since developed for chum and pink salmon. The district is divided into 6 subdistricts to facilitate management of individual stocks or stock groups. These subdistricts are 1) Nome, 2) Golovin, 3) Moses Point, 4) Norton Bay, 5) Shaktoolik, and 6) Unalakleet (Figure 7). Conservation concerns for chum salmon stocks have resulted in no commercially harvested chum salmon in the Nome Subdistrict since Average commercial harvests over the recent 5-year period ( ) in the entire Norton Sound District were 143 Chinook, 191 sockeye, 59,709 coho, 53,975 pink, and 88,763 chum salmon (Table 1). In 2014, commercial harvests in Norton Sound were 84 Chinook, 319 sockeye, 112,756 coho, 182,406 pink, and 107,745 chum salmon. The 2014 chum salmon harvest was over 100,000 fish for the fourth time in five years (Menard et al. In prep), and the coho salmon commercial harvest was the highest since The Port Clarence District includes all waters from Cape Douglas north to Cape Prince of Wales, including the drainages of the Pilgrim and Kuzitrin rivers (Figure 7). Commercial salmon fishing has been prohibited in this district since Few stocks are present, and their run sizes are relatively small; however, the sockeye salmon run into Salmon Lake that passes through the district increased to an average of over 56,000 fish for the years (Table 2). In 2007, due to these recent increases in sockeye salmon returns, a commercial fishery for sockeye salmon was permitted, with a guideline harvest limit of 10,000 sockeye salmon. Participation was low (3 permit holders), and catches of chum salmon exceeded sockeye salmon 3 to 1 (3,183 to 1,152; Soong et al. 2008). A precipitous decline in escapement followed 2008, and escapement has averaged just 7,233 fish/year since 2009 (Table 2). The Kotzebue Sound District includes all waters from Cape Prince of Wales to Point Hope (Figure 8) and is the northern-most commercial fishing district in Alaska. The current commercial fishery opened under state management in 1962, but there are documented sales of salmon in the Kotzebue area dating back to the early 1900s. This is primarily a chum salmon fishery with a few Chinook salmon taken annually and an incidental take of Dolly Varden that pass through the fishery in August. Average commercial harvests in the Kotzebue Sound District were 253,621 chum salmon and 619 Dolly Varden (Table 1; Menard et al. In prep). In 2014, the chum salmon harvest in the Kotzebue Sound District was largest ever at 636,187 (Table 1). There is also a directed under-ice commercial fishery on sheefish in Hotham 9

18 Inlet. Documented annual harvests in this fishery have averaged fewer than 50 fish over the past several years, and the harvest quota of 25,000 pounds has never been met. The Division of Commercial Fisheries conducts annual assessments of salmon escapements using weirs, counting towers, and aerial surveys. Weirs and towers are thought to provide more accurate measures of escapement than aerial surveys, and these methods have been expanded to cover more streams during recent years (Table 2). The status of Norton Sound chum salmon stocks of concern was reviewed by the BOF as part of the 2010 meeting cycle, and a biological escapement goal (BEG) for chum salmon based on combined weir, tower, and aerial survey counts in Nome Subdistrict streams was established. In addition, sustainable escapement goals (SEGs) have recently been developed for salmon stocks that lacked adequate data for the development of more formalized BEGs (Table 2). Currently, there are 25 escapement goals for Norton Sound area salmon stocks (10 for chum, 5 for Chinook, 5 for pink, 3 for coho, and 2 for sockeye salmon; Munro and Volk 2013). SUBSISTENCE FISHERIES Approximately 27,000 people live in the NW/NSMA (US Census Bureau 2010). Except for the 2 larger communities of Nome and Kotzebue, the population is scattered among 31 small villages along the coast and the major area rivers. Most of the population is composed of Alaska Natives, many of whom rely heavily on the subsistence use of fish and wildlife for their livelihoods in a mixed market subsistence economy. Although personal-use fisheries are also allowed, there has been no participation in these fisheries in the NW/NSMA, largely because all Alaska residents qualify as subsistence users. Subsistence harvests of salmon, Dolly Varden, sheefish, whitefish, and crab are very important to the livelihood of the many small villages in the NW/NSMA and are generally much larger than the sport fish harvests, which generally make up the smallest component of overall use in most years. Subsistence use of salmon is monitored using village surveys conducted by ADF&G Division of Subsistence and by permits issued by and returned to the Division of Commercial Fisheries. Recent subsistence salmon harvests ( ) have averaged about 57,000 fish in the Norton Sound District (Table 3). This average harvest was composed of 1,791 Chinook, 466 sockeye, 11,649 coho, 29,426 pink, and 13,523 chum salmon. In 2014, 65,812 salmon were harvested in the Norton Sound District. This harvest was composed of 1,031 Chinook, 721 sockeye, 14,438 coho, 34,318 pink, and 15,304 chum salmon. The recent 5-year ( ) average subsistence salmon harvest in the Port Clarence District was 11,567 fish, composed of 48 Chinook, 2,149 sockeye, 629 coho, 3,336 pink and 5,404 chum salmon (Table 3; Menard et al. In prep). In 2001, the BOF passed a regulation expanding legal gear for subsistence fishers to include a line attached to a rod or pole in all waters of Northern Norton Sound from Cape Espenberg along the coast to Bald Head Point. This area encompasses all waters of the Port Clarence District and the Nome and Golovin subdistricts (Figure 7). Although standard sport fishing gear can be used for subsistence fishing in these areas, sport fish methods and means regulations still apply (e.g., no snagging in freshwater). Sport fish bag and possession limits by species as specified in 5 AAC also apply, except when fishing through the ice or when a subsistence permit is required (such as in the Port Clarence District and the Nome and Golovin subdistricts), in which case the limits specified in the subsistence permit will apply. However, in all areas where sport gear is legal, subsistence gear is legal as well. Fishers cannot combine sport fish bag and possession limits with subsistence harvest permit limits. 10

19 The cyclic nature of salmon abundance in Norton Sound streams is reflected by the large variations in annual escapements (Table 2). In 2003, subsistence fishing opportunity in the Nome Subdistrict of Norton Sound was severely restricted because of low salmon abundance. In 2004, fishing opportunity was expanded because of abundant sockeye and pink salmon. In , higher-than-expected runs of chum salmon, in addition to abundant pink and sockeye salmon runs, allowed for a more relaxed subsistence fishing schedule. In 2008, chum salmon returns were down and restrictions were put in place for the subsistence fishery in the Nome Subdistrict; however, pink salmon escapements were near record highs in many areas (Table 2). Sockeye salmon escapements in the Pilgrim River, which averaged over 50,000 fish for the years , have only averaged 6,200 fish from (Table 2; Menard et al. In prep). Sockeye salmon counts at the Pilgrim River weir were 9,719 in 2014 and 36,052 in 2015; enough to both satisfy escapement needs as well as allow for a limited subsistence fishery. In addition to salmon, other fish are taken, including saffron cod, rainbow smelt, Dolly Varden, and whitefish. In the Kotzebue Sound District, the recent 10-year ( ) subsistence salmon harvest has been about 19,000 chum salmon (Table 3); however, subsistence harvest surveys for all species were not conducted in all 11 Kotzebue Sound District villages in all years, and therefore, these reported catches underestimate the total harvest by some unknown amount. For example, in 2007 the residents of Kivalina harvested a total of 4,568 chum salmon; however, this survey did not include villages along the Kobuk and Selawik rivers or the village of Kotzebue, and so total chum salmon harvests were probably much higher (Magdanz et al. 2010). In the Kotzebue Sound District, sheefish and other whitefish species are also an important subsistence resource, especially in Kotzebue, Selawik, and the villages along the Kobuk River. The relative importance of whitefish is higher in the Kotzebue Sound District than in many other areas of the state, with much of the whitefish harvest including sheefish harvested by jigging through the ice in Hotham Inlet in the spring. In 2011, residents of Selawik harvested 250,000 lbs of whitefish, of which 28% were sheefish (Fall et al. 2014), and in 2012 the residents of the 5 Kobuk River villages (Kiana, Amber, Shungnak, Kobuk, and Noorvik) harvested 214,000 lbs of whitefish, of which 47% were sheefish (Braem et al. 2013). ESTABLISHED MANAGEMENT PLANS AND POLICIES Regulations governing fisheries in the NW/NSMA are found in 5 AAC through 5 AAC (North Slope Area sport fishing) and 5 AAC through 5 AAC (Northwestern Area sport fishing), and in 5 AAC through 5 AAC (subsistence fishing). The Unalakleet River King Salmon Management Plan, which encompasses sport, subsistence, and commercial regulations, is found in 5 AAC Fisheries-specific management objectives for the management area have been identified in management plans for Arctic grayling and lake trout. In addition, a series of general divisional criteria have been prepared to guide establishment of fishery objectives, including the following: Management and protection of existing fish resources. Divisional activities should strive to manage and protect Alaska s wild fish stock resources for future generations. Public use and benefits of existing fish resources. Alaska s fishery resources should be made available for public use and benefit on a sustained yield basis. Rehabilitation of depressed stocks and damaged habitat. Division activities should strive to restore and maintain fish stocks and habitat damaged by human activities. 11

20 Enhancement of natural production or creation of new opportunities. The division should pursue creation of new sport fishing opportunities through rehabilitation of natural stocks or creation of new fisheries where these opportunities do not negatively impact other fisheries. Two region-wide management plans that affect fisheries in the area have been completed. A regional management plan for Arctic grayling was adopted by the BOF in January The Wild Lake Trout Management Plan was adopted for the Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim (AYK) region by the BOF in February 2007 (Burr 2006). Revision of existing plans, as well as the development of additional fisheries management plans, will occur as needed in response to changes in use patterns as new quantitative information becomes available. The Wild Arctic Grayling Management Plan (5 AAC ; 5 AAC ) directs ADF&G to manage wild Arctic grayling populations in the NW/NSMA for long-term sustained yield through a conservative harvest regime. The plan establishes and defines 3 management approaches under which ADF&G shall manage wild Arctic grayling populations in the NW/NSMA: 1) the regional management approach; 2) the conservative management approach; and, 3) the special management approach. The plan also outlines guidelines and considerations for ADF&G, the public, and/or BOF to change or address the management approach for a water body or fish stock. The Wild Lake Trout Management Plan (5 AAC ; 5 AAC ) directs ADF&G to manage wild lake trout populations in the NW/NSMA by employing a conservative harvest regime and by maintaining harvest below the maximum sustained yield level. ADF&G may take 1 or more management actions if there is a conservation or biological concern for the sustainability of the fishery or a stock harvested in that fishery. These actions include reduction of bag and possession limit, reduction of fishing time, allowing only catch-and-release, and modification of methods and means of harvest. The plan also specifies allowable measures to reduce harvest if the harvest level exceeds sustainable yield for a 2-year period. Finally, the plan establishes a process for designating special management waters and means for limiting harvest in these areas to meet the management objectives. MAJOR ISSUES FOR THE NORTHWEST/NORTH SLOPE MANAGEMENT AREA 1. Unalakleet River Chinook salmon. The Unalakleet River sustains the highest sport fishing effort of any single river in the NW/NSMA and supports the largest directed Chinook salmon fishery in the area. In addition, the residents of Unalakleet and Shaktoolik depend heavily on Chinook salmon for subsistence uses, and when escapements are large enough, income through a directed commercial fishery. Currently there is a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 1,200 to 2,600 Chinook salmon on the North River, which is a large tributary of the Unalakleet River. After a historic high of 4,185 fish in 1997, tower counts on the North River have declined steadily, and counts have failed to reach the lower end of the SEG for 7 out of the last 11 years ( ; Table 2). In 2011, the count was 864 fish, which was the all-time low until it was eclipsed in 2013 (564 fish). In 2014, the count increased to 2,681 fish, likely in part due to a complete pre-season closure of all subsistence, sport, and commercial Chinook salmon fisheries. In addition, recent results from enumeration projects suggest that the proportion of the escapement that spawns in the North River may be increasing, leading to questions about the effectiveness of 12

21 in-season management using tower counts. Uncertainties regarding the reasons for the declines in escapement, coupled with continued pressure from multiple user groups, makes the Unalakleet River Chinook salmon stock a primary concern for fisheries managers in Northwestern Alaska. 2. Wulik River Dolly Varden. Development of a world-class zinc deposit at the Red Dog site in the Upper Wulik River drainage carries the risk of heavy-metal contamination on one of the most important streams in Northwest Alaska for Dolly Varden. The risk of heavy-metal contamination to Red Dog and Ikalukrok creeks, occurs from 1) natural leaching of the ore body as it was stripped for ore production and 2) from discharge of contaminated waters into the river. A contamination problem in 1989 and 1990 has been controlled with additional wastewater treatment and the construction of a clean water bypass system in Red Dog Creek. Water quality is monitored by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and mine personnel. Contamination from dust along the road corridor has recently been documented by the National Park Service (NPS). In addition, final permits have been approved for expansion of the mine (called the Aqqaluk extension), which will extend the operational life of the mine from an original date for ore depletion of 2012 until The Division of Sport Fish has conducted aerial surveys of Dolly Varden overwintering in the Wulik River annually for many years and, in cooperation with the Division of Habitat, collects fish from which tissues are sampled for heavy metal analyses twice each year. A project to use DIDSON to enumerate the spring outmigration began as a pilot project in 2014 and was conducted with mixed success in Nome area gold mining. The future development of large-scale lode deposits of gold near Nome has the potential to degrade fish habitat in the Snake, Cripple, and Solomon river drainages. Recently, a large increase in the number of recreational suction-dredging operations has occurred in the nearshore marine waters of the Nome Subdistrict, generating concerns over turbidity plumes and conflicts with subsistence fishers. Interest in mining is directly related to the world price of gold. Although the price of gold peaked in 2011 at nearly $2,000/oz, prices have remained high enough in the years following ( $1,200/oz in 2015) to keep mining interest high in the Nome area. 4. Rural resentment of sport fishing and sport anglers. At public meetings in this area, local residents sometimes express resentment toward outsiders who come into remote areas traditionally used by local people for subsistence hunting or fishing. They explain that there is a cultural proscription against the concept of sport fishing in that people do not have the right to play with food resources. This point of view can be particularly strong toward catch-and-release practices and has led to some resentment directed toward sport anglers who wish to fish in remote waters of NW/NSMA, and to proposals before the BOF that would have eliminated catch-andrelease in some fisheries. 5. Effects of federal subsistence fisheries management on sport fishing opportunity in the NW/NSMA. In October 1999, federal fishery managers assumed responsibility for ensuring a rural subsistence priority on navigable waters adjacent to or within the boundaries of federal conservation units. There is continued concern that a result of 13

22 this action will be reduced opportunity for sport fishing throughout Alaska. Since there is a large amount of federal public land within the NW/NSMA that is used by local residents for subsistence purposes, the potential loss of sport fishing opportunity in remote areas of the NW/NSMA is of concern to anglers and sport fish managers. The ADF&G continues to work with federal managers and Federal Subsistence RACs to address fisheries issues as they arise. ACCESS PROGRAM The Wallop Breaux Amendment to the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell Johnson or D J) mandates that at least 15% of the federal funds collected from taxes on boat gas and sport fishing equipment be used by the states for the development and maintenance of motorized boating access facilities. A broad range of access facilities can be approved for funding if they are constructed to achieve a state fishery management objective. These facilities can include boat ramps and lifts, docking and marina facilities, breakwaters, fish cleaning stations, restrooms, and parking areas. To date, few access projects have been proposed for the rural areas of the NW/NSMA; however, a boat launching facility was recently built in the village of Unalakleet using Access funds. In early 2010, a request from the city manager of Nome was submitted for a cooperative project with ADF&G to build a boat launch, parking area, and possibly a restroom facility on the mouth of the Snake River. However, it is unclear whether the city of Nome has the resources to maintain these facilities once they are built, and therefore, any further planning for this project has been suspended until this issue is resolved. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION Information regarding regulations, publications, stocking and fishing reports, news releases, and EOs for the NW/NSMA can be found by following the Fishing and then Sport links at the ADF&G website ( The Interior Area and Northwest Drainages sections on this website provide area descriptions, and at the Fishing Information and Fishing Brochures links, several Division of Sport Fish publications are available for download, including Nome Roadside Fishing Guide, Sheefish Catch & Release (for anglers interested in fishing the Kobuk or Selawik River drainages), and Sport Fishing along the Dalton Highway (for those interested in fishing along the roadside on the North Slope). Also, Dolly Varden and Arctic Char in Northern Alaska can be helpful for anglers who fish in the NW/NSMA, because both species are found in the area. There are 3 regional information and education (I&E) staff located in the Fairbanks office. An Information Officer II and a seasonal Fisheries Technician III respond to questions from the public at the office and via phone and . In addition, I&E staff update the regional web page, distribute fishery brochures and fishing regulations, and coordinate the Fairbanks Outdoor Show booth, Kids Fish & Game Fun Day, and the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program. An Education Associate II coordinates the sport fishing component of the Alaska Conservation Camp and works with schools in various communities throughout the region to provide a curriculum in sport fishing and aquatic education. 14

23 SPORT FISHING EFFORT, HARVEST, AND CATCH Effort, harvest, and catch statistics for NW/NSMA sport fisheries have been estimated from responses to the SWHS since 1977 and reported under the headings of Seward Peninsula Norton Sound Drainages (Area W), Northwest Alaska Drainages (Area X), and North Slope Drainages (Area Z) ( The results of the SWHS indicate that effort in the NW/NSMA has remained more or less stable since 1996; however, estimated annual sport fishing effort since 2010 has been lower than any year since before 2000 (Table 4). For the years , total sport fishing effort for the NW/NSMA averaged 20,952 anglerdays, almost 5,000 less than the prior 5-year ( ) average of 25,950, with most of the decrease coming from Seward Peninsula waters (Table 4). In 2014, the number of angler-days in the NW/NSMA was 9,542, 54% less than the recent 5-year average (Table 4). The Seward Peninsula and Norton Sound subarea supports most of the sport fishing effort in the NW/NSMA. Effort there has averaged 12,177 angler-days (58% of the area total) for the years (Table 4). Rivers supporting the most sport fishing effort in the NW/NSMA have been the Unalakleet, Fish/Niukluk, and Nome rivers. Angler effort averaged 3,994 angler-days for the Unalakleet River for , approximately 33% of the total effort in the subarea (Table 4). The Nome River has been closed to fishing for Arctic grayling and chum salmon since the early 1990s (although sport fishing for chum salmon reopened in 2013), and it is likely that these closures contributed to a reduction of fishing effort on this stream. Annual effort in the Nome River averaged 1,773 angler-days for , comprising 15% of the total effort for the subarea (Table 4). The Fish/Niukluk river system has sustained an annual average of 3,085 angler-days of effort for Estimated effort on the Snake and Sinuk rivers has averaged about 557 and 512 angler-days respectively for (Table 4). In the Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea subarea, sport fishing effort has been somewhat more variable, ranging from about 3,100 to 7,400 angler-days per year for (Table 4). In 2014, there were an estimated 3,860 angler-days in the subarea (Table 4). The large drainages of the Kobuk and Noatak rivers support more than 77% of the freshwater effort in this subarea during most years, and the remainder is dispersed among smaller drainages such as the Wulik, Kivalina, and Selawik rivers, and many of the area s lakes. Expense of travel, difficulty of access, and small human population probably account for the low levels of sport fishing effort reported in this region. In the North Slope subarea, sport fishing effort is generally light but variable, with much of the effort focused on Dolly Varden, Arctic char, lake trout, and Arctic grayling in streams and lakes along the Dalton Highway (North Slope Haul Road) where access is less difficult. The average effort for the years was 3,861 angler-days, with more than 64% of that coming from Haul Road fisheries (Table 4). In 2014, sport fishing effort was 3,641 angler-days with almost 43% of the effort directed at Haul Road fisheries. Harvests of Pacific salmon other than pink salmon in 2014 were below the recent 5- and 10-year averages (Table 5). Catches of Chinook and coho salmon in 2014 were well below recent averages, while catches of pink and chum salmon were close to recent averages (Table 6). Salmon harvest in 2014 was 8,971 fish, well below the recent 10-year average of 12,243 fish, with coho salmon harvest (3,378 fish) well below the 5-year average of 5,743 fish per year (Table 5). The Unalakleet River has provided for 74% of the harvest and 84% of the catch of Chinook salmon in the NW/NSMA in the past 10 years. With a predicted low escapement in 15

24 2015, the sport fishery for Chinook salmon was closed to fishing by EO on May 30 (Appendix A). Catches of Pacific salmon in the NW/NSMA in 2014 were 20,154 fish, down 50% from the recent 10-year average of 40,622 (Table 6). Much of the decrease can be attributed to decreases in catches of coho and pink salmon from the early 2000s. Harvest and catch of Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden were also down considerably in 2014 compared to recent averages. Harvest of Dolly Varden was down 78% in 2014 (948 fish) compared to the recent 10-year average of 4,315 fish. Similarly, harvest of Arctic grayling dropped 68% in 2014 (653 fish) from the recent 10- year average of 2,331 fish (Table 5). Catches of both Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling in 2014 fell from recent 10-year averages. Catches of Dolly Varden were 6,522 in 2014 and of Arctic grayling were 6,698, compared to recent 10-year averages of 17,246 and 21,198 fish, respectively (Table 6). Harvest and catch of all other non-salmon species in 2014 remained below recent 10-year averages (Tables 5 and 6). More detailed descriptions of specific important fisheries by location and species can be found in Section II. SECTION II: MAJOR NORTHWESTERN AND NORTH SLOPE AREA FISHERIES NW/NSMA waters offer some of the most remote and diverse angling opportunities available in Alaska. Opportunities to fish for Dolly Varden, sheefish, and Arctic grayling in pristine areas without encountering other anglers are widespread. Angling opportunities for salmon, especially chum, pink, and coho salmon, are not as well-known but can be excellent. Marine sport fisheries have been virtually nonexistent throughout the area, although in Norton Sound, anglers occasionally try trolling for salmon (Chinook, coho, and pink) on calm days. The proportion of angler-days spent fishing in saltwater is generally less than 5% of the total annual areawide effort. Jigging through the ice for saffron cod, smelt, flounder, sheefish, Arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden is common near coastal settlements, but these fisheries generally operate under subsistence fishing regulations. This section provides a summary of significant sport fisheries by species in the NW/NSMA in 2013 and Discussion of each fishery will address 1) a historical perspective; 2) recent fishery performance (stock status); 3) fishery objectives and management; 4) current issues; 5) recent actions by the board; and, 6) ongoing and recommended management and research activities. Recent fishery performance will focus on data from Information regarding the 2015 season were included where available, but estimates of sport effort and harvest are not yet available for the 2015 season. NORTHWESTERN ALASKA SALMON FISHERIES Sport fishing for salmon takes place throughout the management area. However, the vast majority of salmon fishing occurs in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea, with concentrated effort near Unalakleet and in waters accessible from the Nome area road system. Some salmon fishing effort occurs in association with wilderness float trips in Kotzebue Sound drainages, but the amount of sport fishing effort expended toward salmon in the northern part of the management area is very light and harvests are very small. 16

25 During the recent 5-years ( ), about 64% of the total average salmon harvest has been coho, 21% pink, 14% chum, 1% Chinook, and <1% sockeye salmon. In 2014, 61% of the total salmon harvest was 38% coho, 51% pink, 11% chum, <1% sockeye, and <1% Chinook salmon (Table 5). UNALAKLEET RIVER SALMON FISHERIES Background and Historical Perspective The village of Unalakleet, with a population of about 800, is located on the shore of Norton Sound at the mouth of the Unalakleet River. Daily air service from Anchorage and Nome provides access for anglers visiting the Unalakleet area. The Unalakleet River supports substantial runs of Chinook, chum, coho, and pink salmon. Most of the angling effort on the Unalakleet River is directed toward Chinook and coho salmon, but other species of salmon, Arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden are also targeted. The Chinook salmon run usually begins in mid-june, peaks during the first week of July, and continues through late July. Anglers access the river by boat from the village of Unalakleet and are composed of a mix of local residents, visitors who rent boats or fish with friends, and visitors who stay at 1 of the 2 sport fishing guide operations on the river. Most sport fishing effort occurs in the lower 15 miles of the Unalakleet River and in the lower 5 miles of the North River, which is a tributary that enters the Unalakleet River about 7 miles upstream from its terminus at the Bering Sea. Sport fishing for Chinook salmon in the Unalakleet River is popular with both local residents and guided and nonresident anglers. Historically, about 20% of the Chinook salmon harvested from the river each year are taken by guided anglers. There are 2 private lodges on the Unalakleet River, upstream of the North River, which provide guided fishing trips for salmon, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. The U.S. Air Force operated a sport fishing recreational camp on the Unalakleet River, 8 miles upstream of the village, during the 1960s. A commercial sport fishing lodge was constructed there in the late 1960s, and the Unalakleet Native Corporation owned the lodge for several years and contracted operations. This lodge is currently in private ownership and can accommodate up to 15 clients at 1 time. The other, smaller operation generally has 2-6 clients at 1 time and focuses primarily on fishing for coho salmon in August. Guiding operations from the Yukon River drainage will sometimes visit the river during the peak of the Chinook and coho salmon runs. While the majority of angling on the Unalakleet River used to be by unguided anglers, the proportion of guided anglers has increased in the last 20 years. An unpublished survey by the Division of Sport Fish in the 1990s estimated that only about 8.5% of salmon anglers on the Unalakleet River were guided. Based on estimated effort levels from the SWHS and known effort by the guiding businesses via the guide logbook program, it is likely that guiding currently accounts for about 15% of the total angling effort on the Unalakleet River (Sigurdsson and Powers In prep). Recent Fishery Performance For the years , the Unalakleet River sustained the highest sport fishing effort of any single river in the NW/NSMA in all but 1 year. The 2002 effort was the highest on record at 8,195 angler-days, and effort for the years averaged 3,994 angler-days (Table 4). Unalakleet River salmon harvests trended upward between 1991 and 2000 and remained relatively stable until 2008, when a record number of salmon were harvested (8,861 fish), principally pink and coho salmon (Tables 7 10). In 2014, the harvest of all salmon species was 17

26 3,991 fish, and the average annual sport harvest of all salmon species from the Unalakleet River for the years was 4,302 fish. Coho salmon comprised about 83% of the average harvest, while Chinook salmon made up about 2%. Approximately 54% of the entire NW/NSMA harvest of coho and 74% of the chum salmon harvest were taken from the Unalakleet River in 2014, while no Chinook salmon were estimated to be harvested from the Unalakleet drainage for the third time since the inception of the SWHS in 1977, likely resulting from early-season closures to the sport fishery (Tables 7 and 8). Estimated sport harvest of Chinook salmon in the Unalakleet River remained fairly stable from 1993 to 2002, averaging about 431 fish annually. For the years , Chinook salmon harvest averaged 291 fish per year (Table 7). This decline in harvest was most likely a result of Chinook salmon restrictions (no retention effective the first or second week of July) in 6 of the 7 years during this period. In addition, beginning in 2007 the annual harvest limit for sport-caught Chinook salmon was reduced from 4 fish to 2 fish by the BOF. In 2008, estimated harvest increased to 580 fish; however, this number may be inflated because 1 respondent reported catching and harvesting 32 jack Chinook salmon (<20 inches) in a year with record low escapement (903 fish counted at the North River tower). This response seems very unlikely, and these fish were probably Dolly Varden or pink salmon. The harvest estimate for Chinook salmon 20 inches was 108 fish, a reasonable number considering the small size of the escapement and the harvests from recent years. Catches of Chinook salmon have averaged 270 fish and harvests have averaged 72 fish annually for , with no harvest at all in (Table 7). There have been no directed commercial fishing openings for Chinook salmon since 2001 in the Unalakleet Subdistrict (Menard et al. In prep). Unalakleet and Shaktoolik Chinook salmon stocks were designated as stocks of concern by the BOF in January Chinook salmon subsistence harvests in Unalakleet have ranged from 90 fish in 1966 to 4,191 fish in 1997 (Menard et al. In prep). The recent 5-year average ( ) harvest was 1,006 fish. The sport fish harvest over the same 5-year period averaged 72 Chinook salmon (Table 7), about 17% of the total Unalakleet salmon harvest. The 2014 subsistence harvest was estimated at 345 Chinook salmon. In 2014, no Chinook salmon were reported caught or harvested in the sport fishery (Tables 6 and 7). In 2014, the Division of Commercial Fisheries restricted subsistence fishing time in the marine waters of the Unalakleet Subdistrict early in the season in order to provide for escapement while allowing for a small subsistence harvest. As a result, an emergency order was issued on May 30, closing sport fishing for Chinook salmon and prohibiting the use of bait in the Unalakleet and Shaktoolik rivers (Appendix A). After additional subsistence fishing opportunities were reduced in other areas of Southern Norton Sound, a second emergency order was issued, closing the Chinook salmon sport fishery in all waters from Black Point to Point Romanof to Cape Denbigh. This EO was in effect from June 2 until August 15, 2014 (Appendix A). A late push of Chinook salmon arrived in the Unalakleet River and the final count on the North River was 2,328 Chinook salmon, close to the upper end of the escapement goal (1,200 2,600 Chinook salmon). Coho salmon are the most sought-after salmon species in the Unalakleet drainage. The run usually begins in late-july, peaks during mid-august, and continues through mid-september. Estimated sport harvest of coho salmon in the Unalakleet River has averaged 3,575 fish for the years (Table 8). In 2014, 3,262 coho salmon were harvested, below above recent 5- and 10-year averages (Table 8). Approximately 39% of coho and Chinook salmon caught are 18

27 harvested, while about 17% of pink salmon and 7% of chum salmon ( average) caught are harvested (Tables 7 10). From 2009 to 2013, commercial harvests of coho salmon in the Unalakleet Subdistrict have averaged 34,850 fish (Menard et al. In prep). During the same period, subsistence harvests of coho salmon in the community of Unalakleet averaged 4,773 fish. The 2014 subsistence harvest was estimated at 5,642 fish (Menard et al. In prep). Historic escapement data for coho salmon in the entire Unalakleet River drainage are not available. Information on the proportion of the run that spawns in the mainstem Unalakleet River was not available until recently; however, counting-tower numbers from the North River probably give an indication of recent run strength. Based on the tower counts, the 2005 and 2007 escapements were over twice the size of the 2004 and 2006 escapements (Table 2). In 2009, the escapement was the highest on record with 22,226 coho salmon past the counting tower. In both 2011 and 2012, tower counts of coho salmon were well below recent counts; however, in both years the tower was inoperable due to high water for several days during the historical peak of the coho salmon run (Menard et al. In prep). In 2014, the tower count of coho salmon at the North River was 4,380 fish (Table 2). Fishery Objectives and Management Prior to 2007, there were no specific management objectives identified for salmon fisheries on the Unalakleet River. In 2007, the BOF adopted the Unalakleet River King Salmon Management Plan, which mandates inseason management actions in the subsistence, sport, and commercial Chinook salmon fisheries to achieve the escapement goal based on North River tower count projections. In 2007, a Chinook salmon sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 1,200 to 2,600 fish was established for the North River. The management goal in the Unalakleet River is to maintain adequate escapement of Chinook salmon into the system that will support utilization by the various user groups. Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Although sport fishing has been ongoing in the Unalakleet River drainage for many years, there is some local resentment of visiting anglers, represented by a few Unalakleet residents who have frequently expressed their point of view during local AC meetings that outsiders are competing for the local salmon resources. Previous declines in chum and coho salmon runs throughout Western Alaska affected the Unalakleet River drainage, although the effect appears to be less dramatic than in Nome Subdistrict streams, which have since recovered and regularly make escapement goals. Recent increases in escapements suggest that coho and chum salmon returns in the Unalakleet River are at more acceptable levels, particularly for coho salmon (Table 2). While the commercial harvests of Chinook salmon in the Unalakleet Subdistrict have been minimal during the past 10 years, sport harvests have stayed fairly consistent until , when no Chinook salmon were harvested in the sport fishery due to preseason closures. The upper reaches of the Unalakleet River (from the Chiroskey River to the headwaters) is a designated National Wild River and falls under federal subsistence management authority. Until recently, federal and state management have not been in conflict for fisheries in the Unalakleet River drainage. However, in March 2009, the FSB closed the federal public waters of the Unalakleet River (upstream from the mouth of the Chiroskey River, or approximately 23 river 19

28 miles from the village) to the taking of Chinook salmon during July It is unclear how this closure will affect an angler intending to catch Chinook salmon in the future; however, the vast majority of the sport fishing effort occurs below the Chiroskey River and so will likely not be affected. Recent Board of Fisheries Actions In 2004, the BOF designated Chinook salmon stocks in the Unalakleet River a stock of yield concern and consequently instituted an annual sport bag limit of 4 fish per year, 20 in or larger in length, of which only 2 could come from the North River, and the bag limit was changed from 1 to 2 fish (only 1 fish 20 in or longer). Previously, there was no annual limit and the bag limit was 1 Chinook salmon 20 in or longer and 10 Chinook salmon less than 20 inches in length. This action was taken in response to the escapements having failed to meet the lower end of the escapement goal for the previous 3 years. In addition, the other salmon limit was set at 10 fish of which only 4 could be chum, coho, or sockeye salmon in combination. This allowed additional harvest opportunity for pink salmon but limited chum, coho, and sockeye salmon harvest. Previously, the bag limit for other salmon had been 5 fish. In 2007, the BOF adopted the Unalakleet River King Salmon Management Plan, which used thresholds within the escapement goal range and projected North River tower counts to trigger inseason management actions in the subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries. With the adoption of this plan, the annual limit was reduced from 4 to 2 Chinook salmon 20 inches or longer. No proposals for the Unalakleet River salmon sport fisheries were adopted by the BOF at either the 2010 or 2013 meetings. Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities Salmon escapements in the Unalakleet River are monitored using a counting tower in the North River, a floating weir in the mainstem Unalakleet River above the confluence with the North River, and aerial surveys. The tower is a cooperative project funded through the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) and operated by NSEDC with guidance by ADF&G Division of Commercial Fisheries, and it provides a reliable estimate of escapement into the North River because of water clarity. Aerial surveys are difficult in the Unalakleet River because of its dark bottom and tannin-stained water. These surveys provide an index of the minimum escapement but are unreliable as an indicator of total escapement in this river. From 1985 through 2012, the Division of Commercial Fisheries operated a variable-mesh test net in the Lower Unalakleet River to get information on run timing, as well as age, size, and sex composition of salmon species. This project was discontinued after concerns by residents of Unalakleet that the number of fish killed each year outweighed the benefits of the information collected. In 2010, a floating weir was installed in the mainstem Unalakleet River approximately 14 river miles upstream of the village to enumerate and sample Chinook salmon, and was scheduled to be in operation only from mid-june through July each year. The weir was installed successfully; however, there were problems capturing Chinook salmon at the weir for biological sampling, and the crew had to beach seine upriver to collect age, sex, and length (ASL) data. Improvements to trap design were made for the 2011 season, and Chinook salmon were easier to capture. In addition, because Chinook salmon were still moving upriver when the weir was removed at the end of July 2010 the subsequent seasons have been extended into mid-august to ensure that all Chinook salmon were counted. In 2014, the weir was in operation through August 25, and in 20

29 2015 it was operated till August 13. This is a federally funded project through the Office of Subsistence Management, with cooperation from BLM, NSEDC, and the ADF&G Division of Commercial Fisheries. A 3-year coho salmon radiotelemetry project, conducted by ADF&G Division of Sport Fish, supported in part by BLM, began in Approximately 200 coho salmon were implanted with radio transmitters each year and tracked to spawning locations. Results of this project suggest that 8% 15% of coho salmon entering the Unalakleet River migrate up the North River to spawn (Joy and Reed 2007). A similar research project was conducted on Chinook salmon in the Unalakleet River during 1997 and In 1997, 37% of radiotagged Chinook salmon spawned in the North River, and 40% in 1998 (Wuttig 1998 and 1999). These data are used to expand the North River tower estimate to allow a relative estimate of the escapement in the entire drainage. In 2009 and 2010, the radiotelemetry experiment on Chinook salmon was repeated, and preliminary results show that 34% of the escapement went into the North River in 2009 and 53% in The 2010 results are significantly higher than the previous 1997 and 1998 findings, which could be biased low based on late run timing of Chinook salmon up the North River in these years (Joy and Reed 2014). In 2011, the Division of Sport Fish initiated a research project to investigate juvenile Chinook and coho salmon ecology in the Unalakleet River. This project is designed to estimate productivity (number of smolt produced per spawner), condition, and growth rates, as well as to determine if a relationship exists between salmon productivity and effects of marine-derived nutrients (MDN) on smolt production. Preliminary results suggest that pink and chum salmon fry constitute 10% 20% of Chinook and coho salmon diets, that Chinook salmon begin their outmigration to sea in the spring under the river ice, and that coho salmon primarily utilize offchannel waters for feeding while Chinook salmon are more often found in the mainstem Unalakleet and North Rivers (Philip Joy, Biologist, ADF&G, Fairbanks, personal communication). This project was discontinued in 2013; however, additional funding is being sought to continue this project for , possibly adding the use of coded-wire tags to estimate marine survival of Chinook and coho salmon. Division of Sport Fish staff have frequently assisted and cooperated informally with the Division of Commercial Fisheries and the Native Village of Unalakleet (NVU) on projects, including the partial funding of counting towers, surveys for adult salmon abundance, and observation of spawning concentrations. NOME AREA ROADSIDE SALMON FISHERIES Background and Historical Perspective Nine rivers, accessible from the road system near Nome, sustain some level of sport fishing effort for salmon (Figure 4). The Nome River has accounted for about 15% of all the sport fishing effort in the entire NW/NSMA during 2009 to 2013 (Table 4). Effort on the Nome River dropped from a high of 7,194 angler-days in 1990 to about 651 angler-days in 2003 (Table 4). Trends in effort have generally coincided with the abundance of pink salmon available to anglers; however, recent fluctuations in summer employment in the Nome area associated with mining have possibly contributed to the recent effort variation as well. The recent 5-year average ( ) on the Nome River was 1,773 angler-days (Table 4). An average of 1,024 salmon was harvested annually from the Nome River during this period, of which 69% were pink salmon (Tables 7 10). The alternate-year strong pink salmon run in Norton Sound has a major influence 21

30 on salmon harvests in sport fisheries on road-accessible streams. This relationship has been strongest in the Nome River because of its proximity to Nome and the ease of access to visitors and residents alike. The pink salmon harvest of about 2,954 fish in 2008 was the second highest since 1996, and the number of angler-days (5,272) in 2008 was the highest angler effort since The increased effort and harvest was probably influenced by a strong run of 1.1 million fish and reduced subsistence opportunity on depressed chum salmon stocks, which may have focused local subsistence fishing effort on the abundant pink salmon. Coho salmon catch and harvest has been down, with the recent 5-year average being well below the recent 10-year average (Table 8). Chum salmon escapements had been increasing in the Nome River in recent years since the collapse in 1990 and had reached up to 7,034 fish in 2007, but in 2009 these numbers had dropped again to 1,565 fish. In 2013, the chum salmon escapement into the Nome River was 4,811 fish (Table 2). The pink salmon escapement dropped from over 1.1 million fish in 2008 to just 16,490 fish in 2009; however, due to the alternating strong (even-year) and weak (odd-year) run life-cycle of pink salmon, this drop was not unexpected. The 2007 parent year escapement for the 2009 return was 24,395 fish. The pink salmon escapement in 2014 was 96,397 fish, a reduction of 39% from parent year 2012 (Table 2); however, this level of escapement is considered sufficient to provide for subsistence and sport harvests. The Niukluk and Fish rivers are also popular sport fishing locations for salmon (Figure 4). Two guiding operations are located on the Niukluk River, and another uses helicopters to transport clients to the upper reaches of these rivers to fish primarily for Arctic grayling, but also coho salmon and Dolly Varden. Many Nome residents have summer cabins on the Niukluk River or fish camps along the river. Residents of White Mountain also travel upriver to the Niukluk for recreation as the river has several good spots to beach seine for salmon. Since the construction of the bridge over Safety Sound in 1980, as well as improvements to the road, access to the Niukluk and Fish rivers has improved and this area has become a desirable destination for the road-bound angler. For the years , the drainage sustained an average annual effort of 3,085 anglerdays (Table 4), and an average of 4,098 salmon have been harvested annually from the Fish and Niukluk rivers, most of which (87%) are coho salmon (Tables 7 10). Since 2005, the lower bound of the escapement goal range for coho salmon (2,400 6,100) has been met every year through 2011, averaging over 7,000 coho salmon a year during this time (Table 2). The 2012 count of 1,729 is considered incomplete, because the counting tower was inoperable after August 16 due to high water, well before the historical coho salmon escapement midpoint date of August 21. Historically, Chinook salmon have not been found in large numbers in the Niukluk River, and escapement of Chinook salmon into the Niukluk River has been less than 200 fish. The Niukluk River counting tower is no longer in operation and instead salmon escapements are now counted at a tower on the mainstem Fish River downstream of the mouth of the Niukluk River (Table 4). The Pilgrim River, with its headwaters at Salmon Lake, has historically been less popular for salmon fishing. The Pilgrim River sustained an average annual effort of 203 angler-days for the years (Table 4), and about 11 salmon were harvested annually during that period, all of which were coho (Tables 7 10). Some of this effort was directed toward other species, because the Pilgrim (and the nearby Kuzitrin River) provides anglers with access to the best northern pike fishing on the Nome road system. There is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campground at the outlet of Salmon Lake, and from there, the river can be floated for about 25 22

31 river miles to the bridge at mile 65 of the Kougarok Road. Riverboats can be launched at the bridge for access to downstream locations. The Pilgrim River is also open to subsistence fishing with gillnets, beach seines, and dip nets, so it is likely that local residents who desire sockeye salmon from the Pilgrim River would use this gear under a subsistence fishing permit rather than by sport fishing with hook-and-line. This may explain, in part, the lower sport fishing effort and salmon harvest on the Pilgrim River, when compared to those systems with larger runs of coho and pink salmon, species that are more easily caught by sport fishing gear (such as Nome and Niukluk rivers). Until 2013, the Fish/Niukluk and the Pilgrim rivers were the only roadaccessible rivers where sport fishing for chum salmon was allowed; however, the combined annual harvests over the last 5 years ( ) from these drainages have only been 174 chum salmon, all of which came from the Fish River drainage (Table 10). Large sockeye salmon escapements during drew additional subsistence effort to this drainage (Table 2). All 5 species of Pacific salmon occur in the Pilgrim River. Sockeye salmon spawn in Salmon Lake, and runs initially appeared to respond positively to lake fertilization conducted by Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), as well as favorable marine conditions (C. Lean, Biologist, NSEDC, Nome, personal communication). However, recent escapements have decreased, and the efficacy of fertilization to enhance smolt condition or adult returns remains unclear (Hamazaki et al. 2012). Escapement of sockeye salmon past the weir in the Pilgrim River for the years ranged from 20,448 85,520 fish, dropped to 953 fish in 2009, and was back up to 12,428 fish in 2013 and 9,719 fish in 2014 (Table 2). These compare to an average escapement of 5,400 for 3 years of enumeration between 2000 and 2002 (Table 2). The mouth of the Snake River is in downtown Nome. This small stream can be accessed from a bridge at about mile 8 of the Teller Road and from the nearby Glacier Creek Road. Over the recent 5-year period ( ), the Snake River has sustained an average annual effort of 557 angler-days, with an annual harvest of 139 salmon, of which about half were coho salmon and half were pink salmon (Tables 4, 7 10). Other popular road-accessible waters include the Solomon and Sinuk rivers. Annual harvests in these rivers, combined for the recent 5-year period ( ), have averaged about 131 coho salmon and 77 pink salmon (Tables 8 9). During years of high pink salmon abundance (even years), this species has dominated catches and harvests in most Nome roadside streams (Table 9). Recent Fishery Performance While pink salmon are by far the most prevalent salmon found in Norton Sound roadside streams, with over 1 million fish returning to some streams in even years, estimated sport harvest of pink salmon averaged only about 1,100 fish for the years and comprised just 39% of the total salmon harvest. Although they are less abundant, coho salmon are a more popular sport fish, probably due to their size, aggressiveness, and superior flavor. Estimated sport harvest of coho salmon in roadside fisheries around Nome for the years averaged 1,580 fish per year and comprised 58% of the total salmon harvest. Prior to 2013, chum salmon fishing had been closed for many years because of depressed stocks. Although 139 fish were harvested from Nome River in 2013 and 52 fish in 2014, the first harvests since all Nome Subdistrict streams were closed to chum salmon fishing in 1992 (Table 10). Both runs and harvests of sockeye and Chinook salmon in the Nome area are negligible. Sockeye salmon have recently returned in large numbers to the Pilgrim River where they are typically targeted with gillnets and seines under subsistence regulations. 23

32 Sport fishing effort in the Fish/Niukluk river system has ranged from a high of about 4,800 angler-days in 1999 to 767 angler-days in 2014 and averaged 3,085 angler-days for the years (Table 4). Estimated harvest of salmon was 979 fish in 2014, 883 of which were coho salmon (Tables 7 10). Although sport fishing for chum salmon is allowed in this drainage, harvest has remained low (Table 10), and most of the chum salmon harvested by hook-and-line are by subsistence fishers. A low harvest of only a few hundred pink salmon occurred in the even years since 1998 in spite of an abundant run of this species, with over 1 million fish in the Niukluk River in some years. This low harvest of pink salmon is probably due to the poor condition of the fish by the time they reach the Niukluk River. Although 969 pink salmon were harvested in 2008, in a year when the escapement on the Niukluk River was almost 670,000 fish (Tables 2 and 9). Just 71 pink salmon were harvested in the sport fishery in The Pilgrim River is the other road-accessible water where chum salmon sport fishing is still allowed; however, harvest hasn t been reported since Effort there in 2014 was estimated at 198 angler-days, near the recent 5-year ( ) average of 203 angler-days (Table 4). Large returns of sockeye salmon from 2004 to 2008 probably reduced sport effort on other species and other systems; although in 2014 escapement was just 9,719 fish (Table 2). The high quality of the sockeye salmon coupled with ease of access and ability to use subsistence gear (gillnets and seines) in the river provides local residents with an abundant, easily harvested source of highquality fish without having to use sport fishing gear for less desirable species. Fishery Objectives and Management There have been no specific management objectives identified for salmon sport fisheries for the Nome roadside streams. The goal of sport fishery management in these waters is to maintain opportunity for anglers to participate in the fisheries and to ensure that escapement goals are met. Sport fishery harvests are small, and emergency actions to restrict sport harvest are generally not contemplated unless escapement-monitoring projects indicate that a particular run is small and that restrictions in subsistence fisheries will be necessary in order to meet escapement goals. One SEG, based on aerial surveys, is in place for sockeye salmon in Salmon Lake, at the headwaters of the Pilgrim River. SEG goals based on tower estimates and weir counts are in several rivers along the Nome Road system, although the Niukluk River SEGs may be removed now that the tower is no longer in operation (Table 2). Current Issues Until recently, Seward Peninsula chum salmon stocks had been in a steady decline since the early 1980s (Menard et al. In prep). This led to increasingly restrictive sport and commercial management and the implementation of a Tier II subsistence fishery (limited to fishers who have a customary and direct dependence on a resource) from in the Nome Subdistrict. Chum salmon runs have improved in recent years to allow the subsistence fishery to be managed as a Tier I fishery since All rivers in Northern Norton Sound, from the Sinuk River in the west to Topkok Head in the east, were closed to sport fishing for chum salmon by regulation in Chum salmon runs have stabilized and even increased in some drainages in recent years, suggesting that runs may be in the process of recovering; and restrictions on commercial and sport fisheries are no longer necessary. Throughout the entire subdistrict, escapement averaged over 60,000 chum salmon for the years , well above the BEG range of 23,000 35,000 fish, and in 2013 the escapement was a record 108,000 chum salmon. However, the decision by the BOF to reopen the chum salmon sport fishery to a bag and possession limit of 3 fish per day 24

33 in 2013 was not embraced by many Nome-area residents and will likely remain a source of conflict between ADF&G and local subsistence fishers. Although it is anticipated that sport harvests will be inconsequential in relation to the size of the escapements, ADF&G managers will nonetheless monitor tower and weir counts in the Nome Subdistrict carefully and implement restrictions if escapement goals for chum salmon are not projected to be met. Sport harvest of chum salmon in the Nome Subdistrict in 2014 was 110 fish, which had a Subdistrict-wide escapement of over 97,000 fish. In 2012, a disagreement between Division of Commercial Fisheries managers and Council Native Corporation over coho salmon management led to the cancellation of the land lease on which the Niukluk River counting tower was stationed, and consequently the tower and camp were removed. It is unlikely that the counting tower on the Niukluk River will be operating in the near future, therefore in 2013 the materials and resources from this project were transferred to the Solomon River, which previously did not have an on-the-ground salmon enumeration project. In 2015, the Solomon River counting project was only in operation between June 30 th and August 24 th, and counted 1,128 chum, 18,764 pink, and 46 coho salmon. Recent Board of Fisheries Actions In 2013, the BOF adopted a proposal to reopen the sport fishery for chum salmon to a bag and possession limit of 3 fish per day in all Nome Subdistrict waters except for the Penny and Cripple rivers. These rivers remain closed due to their very small size and subsequent small runs of chum salmon. Current and Recommended Research and Management Activities Current research and management activities on Nome roadside salmon populations are primarily conducted by the Division of Commercial Fisheries in conjunction with NSEDC s fisheries office. These groups cooperatively operate escapement enumeration weir projects on the Nome, Solomon, Eldorado, Pilgrim, and Snake rivers. The weirs direct the movement of all fish, which are counted as they are permitted to pass through an opening in the weir several times each day. Since 2001, a weir has been operated by BLM, NSEDC, or the Division of Commercial Fisheries at the outlet of Glacial Lake on the Sinuk River to enumerate sockeye salmon migrating into the lake. In 2012, a video enumeration pilot study was begun on the Lower Sinuk River to count all species of salmon, but the study had mixed results and was since moved up to the headwaters at the outlet of Glacial Lake. Recently, NSEDC in cooperation with LGL-Alaska has conducted experiments on the Fish, Niukluk, and Nome river drainages attempting to estimate coho salmon escapements using abundance of smolt, as well as measuring available freshwater fry habitat. To date, the results have shown that the relationship between smolt abundance and subsequent adult returns has been difficult to measure. In 2015, the Division of Commercial Fisheries began a 2- year project to examine movements of chum salmon captured and released in the marine waters on the Nome Subdistrict using acoustic transmitters. This project involves placing receiving stations at several locations in marine waters as well as at all of the major chum salmonproducing streams in the Nome Subdistrict. Preliminary results showed that most tagged fish were later detected in the Sinuk, Bonanza, and Nome rivers, with a small proportion of tagged fish being recaptured by fishers near Kotzebue. Staff from the Division of Sport Fish assisted with receiver deployment, and fish capture and tagging. 25

34 NORTHWESTERN ALASKA DOLLY VARDEN AND ARCTIC CHAR Background and Historical Perspective In Northwestern Alaska, Arctic char occur in lakes in the Kigluaik Mountains and in some headwater lakes in the Kobuk and Noatak river drainages, while Dolly Varden are common inhabitants of most coastal streams and large rivers (Figures 2 6). Although ADF&G typically combines Dolly Varden and Arctic char for bag limits and data collection for harvest surveys, they are 2 different species with distinctly different life histories. Arctic char are present only as lake-resident populations, while Dolly Varden may be present as lake-resident, stream-resident, or anadromous populations. Arctic char distribution is very limited in Northwestern Alaska, and the vast majority of char fisheries are actually directed toward Dolly Varden. Many residents of Northwestern Alaska maintain a traditional subsistence lifestyle in which Dolly Varden comprise an important part of their traditional harvest and, in some communities, outrank salmon and whitefish in importance to the subsistence economy. The number of Dolly Varden harvested for subsistence purposes are largely undocumented in Northwestern Alaska but vastly exceed the number taken by sport anglers. Intermittent community subsistence harvest estimates dating back to 1959 for the villages of Kivalina and Noatak (Scanlon 2008), and personal observation by the area biologist and subsistence resource specialist suggest that 15,000 to 30,000 Dolly Varden are harvested annually in this area (James Magdanz, Subsistence Resource Specialist, ADF&G, Kotzebue, personal communication). In 2007, the residents of Kivalina harvested 67,739 pounds of Dolly Varden, second only to bearded seal in terms of pounds of harvested subsistence foods; and in Noatak, 33,771 pounds of Dolly Varden were harvested, second only to caribou (Magdanz et al. 2010). Fish are captured with gillnets or beach seines during open water periods and with hook-and-line during winter. Dolly Varden are also an important subsistence resource in Norton Sound; however, their relative importance is minor compared to salmon. Observations and aerial surveys suggest that Dolly Varden spawner abundance is low in most rivers; however, spawning occurs in almost all drainages of Norton Sound, some northern Seward Peninsula rivers, and the major drainages of Kotzebue Sound and the Chukchi Sea. Aerial surveys of spawning Dolly Varden conducted during the mid-1990s indicated that about 9,000 12,000 spawned annually in the Noatak drainage (Table 13). Total abundance of spawning Dolly Varden in Northwestern Alaska is unknown. Partial surveys for the years and angler reports suggested that spawner abundance in Noatak, Wulik, and Kivalina river streams had declined to some degree; however, it appears based upon anecdotal subsistence fishing reports that fishing has been good and subsistence needs for Dolly Varden are being met in Northwestern Alaska. Anadromous Dolly Varden make their first seaward migration at age-3 or age-4 in the spring to feed during the summer then return to freshwater each winter. Upon reaching sexual maturity at ages 6 9, they return to their home river to spawn. Each fall, nonspawning Dolly Varden return to freshwater to overwinter in mixed-stock aggregations. Some Dolly Varden stocks spawn in August, while others spawn in September or October. During summer, spawning Dolly Varden are caught in some Northwestern Alaskan streams; however, most sport fisheries for Dolly Varden target overwintering populations either in the fall as they enter freshwater from the sea or in the spring as they move toward the sea. Because overwintering populations are composed of mixed stocks, potentially from a wide geographic area, harvests in the few rivers with good 26

35 angler access have been sustainable. Harvests can be substantial in streams along the Nome road system, and if directed toward a single stock, they might not be sustainable. Movements of Norton Sound Dolly Varden coincide with those of salmon and are sometimes present in streams during summer to feed on salmon eggs, especially during years of high pink salmon abundance. They are also likely to remain in streams during the spring following a large pink salmon run in order to feed on abundant outmigrating salmon fry. The timing of the fall movement of Dolly Varden into Seward Peninsula streams has varied widely over the past 10 years, resulting in annual changes in the availability of Dolly Varden to the fall fishery. Fisheries and harvests in this area follow these patterns of availability. In 1988, the BOF adopted the bag limit of 10 Dolly Varden and Arctic char per day with 10 in possession, with exceptions for the Noatak, Wulik, and Kivalina rivers where only 2 of the 10 fish could be over 20 inches in length. In 1994, the BOF adopted the current bag and possession limits for Dolly Varden and Arctic char in the AYK region with 10 fish per day, only 2 fish 20 inches or longer allowed in marine or flowing waters and 2 fish per day (no size limit) allowed in lakes. Due to habitat preferences, these regulations allow a liberal limit for Dolly Varden while protecting spawning fish and a conservative limit for Arctic char (found primarily in lakes) without the need for anglers to differentiate between these 2 closely related species. Drainages of Kotzebue Sound and the Chukchi Sea are known for the large size of anadromous Dolly Varden available to the sport angler. Since the inception of ADF&G s Trophy Fish Program in 1967, 146 out of 323 qualifying fish (45%) in the Dolly Varden/Arctic char category have come from the NW/NSMA. In addition, the current Alaska sport fish angling record for Arctic char/dolly Varden (27 lb 4 oz) was a Dolly Varden taken from the Wulik River in 2002, surpassing the previous record of 20 lb 12 oz taken from the same river in Abundance and size composition were estimated for Dolly Varden overwintering in the Nome River in 1991 and 1992 and the Solomon River in In addition, the movement of marked fish from the Nome River in 1991 to other rivers in 1992 was estimated (DeCicco 1992a and 1993a). These data, in combination with harvest estimates and observed changes in abundance, have been used to guide ADF&G management activities. The results indicate Dolly Varden that overwinter in a particular stream may overwinter in other streams during subsequent years. Hence, a restrictive bag limit in a single stream does not necessarily protect a single stock because fish range widely and stocks mix over a broad geographic area. During the winter of , Dolly Varden were radiotagged in the Nome and Solomon rivers to document the critical wintering areas in these rivers (DeCicco 2001). Studies in the Kotzebue Sound subarea have occurred intermittently since 1967, but in recent years they have been limited to aerial index counts of spawning Dolly Varden in Noatak River tributary streams with the assistance of the NPS, and index counts of Dolly Varden overwintering in the Wulik River with the assistance of the ADF&G-Division of Habitat and the Red Dog Mine. Data on the abundance of Dolly Varden overwintering in the Wulik River will continue to be collected, in cooperation with these agencies. A genetics study was funded through the USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Service) Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) to determine the relationships among stocks north and south of the Bering Strait. Results suggested that stocks in western Alaska are structured along geographic lines with good separation among stocks (Crane et al. 2005). A detailed study of a single spawning stock in the Noatak drainage was begun in This spawning stock assessment project was completed, but high water conditions during critical times of fish movement in both 2001 and 2002 resulted in 27

36 incomplete data (Scanlon 2004). In October 2003, 15 Dolly Varden were radiotagged in the Wulik River to determine movement over the course of the winter. These fish remained in the same vicinity as tagged until June 2005 (A. DeCicco, 2006, unpublished data). At that time, 2 fish, likely spawners, remained in the Wulik River, and 1 had been captured at Kivalina. The remaining radiotagged fish could not be located and it is believed that these fish had already migrated to salt water. Recent Fishery Performance Over the recent 5-year period ( ), sport harvests of Dolly Varden and Arctic char have averaged 2,137 fish annually in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea and 971 fish in the Kotzebue Sound/Chukchi Sea subarea; however, harvests of Dolly Varden and Arctic char dropped notably in 2014 with a total of just 370 fish harvested combined from both subareas, well below the recent average of 3,108 fish (Table 11). The historically higher harvests in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound area are most likely because local residents have good road access to fishing areas where fish taken by hook-and-line are used for food. In the Kotzebue Sound subarea, fishing sites are accessed by aircraft or raft, and much of the effort is from outside the local area by anglers seeking a high-quality fishing experience. Estimated sport fishing effort levels in both the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea and the Kotzebue Sound subarea have been fairly consistent over the past several years. Average annual catch for was 11,190 Dolly Varden in the NW/NSMA (Table 12). During the recent 5-year period ( ), about 72% of all Dolly Varden caught in the NW/NSMA were released. Dolly Varden harvests have been reported in most of the rivers in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea, with the highest harvests coming from the Nome, Unalakleet, and Fish/Niukluk rivers (Table 11). In the Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea subarea, the highest harvests are from the Noatak and Wulik rivers and the other rivers category, which includes the Kivalina River. The Wulik River is located about 90 miles north of Kotzebue and is well known as an excellent fishing destination for large Dolly Varden (Figure 5). The river is about 90 miles long and enters the Chukchi Sea through Kivalina Lagoon near the village of Kivalina. Dolly Varden from the Wulik River are heavily used for subsistence by the residents of Kivalina (Magdanz et al. 2011). Sport fishing occurs throughout the open water period, but the majority of effort and harvest occurs during late August and September when Dolly Varden return from the marine waters to overwinter in the river. Fishery Objectives and Management Management of Dolly Varden in Norton Sound streams is structured to maintain opportunity and allow a relatively liberal bag limit from mixed stock population aggregations. In the Kotzebue subarea, the intent is to maintain a high-quality fishery with the opportunity to harvest a small number of large-sized Dolly Varden (20 inches or larger) under a bag limit that protects the spawning component of the population (generally over 20 inches in length), minimizes conflicts with subsistence users, and does not adversely affect the population structure. Because of the differential size structure of the population groups north and south of the Bering Strait (with Dolly Varden found north of the Bering Strait generally reaching much larger sizes and not becoming sexually mature until they reach approximately 20 inches, unlike the those found in streams below the Bering Strait), these objectives can be addressed with the same general bag and possession limit regulation of 10 fish per day with only 2 fish 20 inches or larger in length. 28

37 Current Issues and Fishery Outlook The Wulik River is probably the most important Dolly Varden stream in Northwestern Alaska, with over 100,000 anadromous Dolly Varden overwintering during some years (Table 13). The Red Dog zinc mine located in the headwaters of this drainage poses a potential threat to these fish and the water quality of the river. Water quality near the mine is systematically monitored to ensure that it is operated in an environmentally sensitive manner. The Red Dog Mine funds a program run by ADF&G s Division of Habitat to monitor heavy-metal concentrations in receiving waters and fish tissues. Fish tissues are sampled for heavy metals in the spring and fall each year on a continuing basis in cooperation with DNR. The recent discovery of additional ore bodies is likely to add new challenges from mineral development in this important drainage. Dolly Varden in Norton Sound are wide-ranging; they spawn in most rivers and overwinter in all major drainages. In the Kotzebue Sound subarea, the sport fishery is likely to grow slowly in popularity as more anglers experience these high-quality fishing opportunities. Until these fisheries grow to the point that harvests are thought to affect spawner abundance, spawner success, or population structure, it is unlikely that additional management action will be necessary. Recent aerial survey counts suggest that the population of overwintering fish in the Wulik River is stable, and counts have regularly exceeded 100,000 fish but have dropped off in recent years, partially due to poor counting conditions in 2012 and The 2014 aerial survey, conducted under good counting conditions, counted 64,351 fish. Spawning and overwintering populations will continue to be monitored in the future when possible. Recent Board of Fisheries Actions No proposals for the Northwest Dolly Varden and Arctic char fisheries were adopted by the BOF at either the 2010 or 2013 meetings. Current and Recommended Research and Management Activities In 2012 and 2013, ADF&G, in cooperation with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Red Dog Mine, deployed pop-up satellite archival (P-SAT) tags in Dolly Varden in the Wulik River in June to examine marine movements and temperature and depth preferences of outmigrating fish during the summer months. Results showed that most tagged fish stayed in the Kotzebue Sound area, including several that went immediately to the Noatak River to spawn, but that several fish each year travelled approximately miles ( km) from the Wulik River to suspected feeding areas in the Chukchi Sea near Russia (Seitz et al. 2014). In addition, these tags provided information on preferred temperature and depth occupancy, showing that once the fish reached the feeding areas in the Chukchi Sea, they made dives of ft (10 50 m) almost continuously throughout the day. Currently, funding is being sought to continue this project. In 2012, ADF&G, in cooperation with NPS, began a research project on Dolly Varden in the Noatak River using radiotelemetry to look for overwintering locations of nonspawning fish that enter the Noatak River in September just prior to freeze-up. Unlike the Wulik River, the Noatak River is very wide and deep in many places, making aerial surveys of overwintering fish difficult. Consequently, there is no reliable information on the number of non-spawning, overwintering fish using the Noatak each year. Based on the information regarding major overwintering locations, 2 DIDSON side-scanning sonar units (1 on each bank) were planned to be used to enumerate the outmigration of Dolly Varden after ice-out. However, preliminary 29

38 results show that Dolly Varden that overwinter in the Noatak River do so in areas too wide to successfully count them with sonar (Schwanke 2012), and the objectives of this project have been modified so that overwintering locations and outmigration are the main focus. Radiotracking via fixed-wing aircraft and tracking stations deployed along the riverbank continued through October 2014; however, data analysis has not yet been completed. In 2014, ADF&G, in cooperation with Red Dog Mine, began a feasibility project using a DIDSON side-scanning sonar unit to enumerate the outmigration of Dolly Varden after ice-out from the Wulik River. A suitable site was chosen and the sonar was able to count fish; however, due to cold temperatures and high, turbid water, the outmigration had only just begun when field operations ceased. Over 6 days in early-june, the sonar counted 229 fish moving downstream and 52 fish moving upstream, with counts of fish moving downstream gradually increasing in the 3 days before the sonar was removed from the water (James Savereide, Biologist, ADF&G, Fairbanks, personal communication). These numbers were much smaller than anticipated; however, during this project the water stayed high and turbid throughout our stay, and it rained frequently. It is likely that because of the cold temperatures and high, turbid water, the outmigration had not begun by the time we ceased to operate the sonar and not because of any technical or logistical challenges. In 2015, the water levels were lower and the project was extended several days, and consequently 29,000 fish were counted moving downstream. However, milling behavior of the Dolly Varden (moving back and forth across the sonar beam) led to uncertainty in the true downstream count (James Savereide, Biologist, ADF&G, Fairbanks, personal communication). This sonar project is expected through 2017, with annual adjustments made to methods in order to improve the accuracy of the counts. NORTHWESTERN ALASKA ARCTIC GRAYLING Background and Historical Perspective Sport fisheries for Arctic grayling in the NW/NSMA are relatively small when compared to the remainder of the AYK Region, with average annual harvests of 764 fish in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea and 496 fish in the Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea subarea for the years (Tables 14 and 15). Even though the harvests are relatively small, Arctic grayling are the most numerous species harvested in the Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea subarea and normally the third or fourth most commonly harvested species in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea. The Seward Peninsula has long been known for its production of large Arctic grayling, with approximately 23% of all trophy Arctic grayling registered with ADF&G s Trophy Fish Program. However, many populations are quite small, and because they often inhabit small streams, they must be managed as independent stocks with regulations tailored to the individual populations (or groups of similarly structured populations) to prevent overexploitation. Since 1989, the stock status of Arctic grayling populations in several rivers where sport fishing occurs on the Seward Peninsula has been monitored (DeCicco 1990, 1991, 1992b, 1993b, , 2002, 2004, 2007; DeCicco and Gryska 2007; DeCicco and Wallendorf 2000; Gryska 2004, 2006, In prep a-b; Gryska and Taras 2007; Joy 2006; Viavant 2014). The Nome River stock was found to be overexploited, while the current levels of harvest on the Niukluk, Fish, Pilgrim, Snake, and Sinuk rivers populations are believed to be sustainable. The Solomon River was found to have a very low Arctic grayling population and was closed to fishing for Arctic grayling in

39 Arctic grayling densities in most Seward Peninsula rivers are low. They generally range from about 40 to 60 fish per mile in the Nome and Sinuk rivers, to about 200 fish per mile in the Pilgrim River. Densities in the Niukluk and Fish rivers are higher at about 470 and about 500 fish per mile, respectively (DeCicco 2002; Viavant 2014). In contrast, Interior Alaska Arctic grayling populations often exceed 500 fish per mile (Ridder et al. 1993; Ridder 2000). Arctic grayling from rivers on the Seward Peninsula are large in general and are generally older and larger when they first spawn than Arctic grayling in Interior Alaska streams. Arctic grayling from the Snake River were found to be 50% mature at 307 mm fork length (FL) and 99% mature at 404 mm FL (DeCicco and Gryska 2007). Arctic grayling from Northwestern Alaska can live for more than 20 years, and 1 fish from the Eldorado River was determined to be approximately 29 years old using otolith analysis. Some Arctic grayling may survive to grow very large, particularly in rivers where fishing effort is light. For example, in the lightly exploited Sinuk River, almost 70% of the 1991 sample was age-8 or older, and the average total length of all fish sampled was over 457 mm (Joy 2006). Arctic grayling occur in almost all streams and in many of the lakes in the Kotzebue area, but most are inaccessible by road and therefore lightly exploited. Most Arctic grayling in this area are caught in association with wilderness float trips or as an alternate species in trips directed toward fishing for Dolly Varden or sheefish. For the years , the estimated harvest rates were only about 12% of the total catch (Table 15). Prior to 1988, the bag limit for Arctic grayling in the NW/NSMA was 15 fish, only 2 of which could be 20 inches or larger. In 1988, the BOF established a separate bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling in Northern Norton Sound of 5 per day, with only 1 fish 15 inches or larger. The effect of this change is reflected in harvest estimates that averaged about 4,300 Arctic grayling annually for the years but dropped to about 1,550 from 1990 to This regulatory change probably resulted in the near doubling of the Arctic grayling populations in the Fish and Niukluk rivers when compared to estimates from the early 1990s (Gryska and Taras 2007; Viavant 2014; Gryska In prep b). Recent Fishery Performance Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound Subarea Estimated harvests of Arctic grayling by sport anglers in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea have declined since 1991 when harvest peaked at 5,121 fish. For the years , harvests averaged 764 fish per year (Table 14). The estimated catch of Arctic grayling fluctuates greatly from year to year, ranging from approximately 4,000 to 15,000 fish during the past 10 years, however catches dipped to 1,800 fish in Catch-and-release appears to be a prevalent practice in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea because the proportion of Artic grayling catch that was harvested was only 10% during Current exploitation rates on most Northwestern Alaska Arctic grayling populations are unknown, but because most are in remote areas and harvests are low, exploitation is believed to be light. Some estimates of exploitation in Nome-area roadside streams are available by combining harvest data with abundance data. Based on this information, exploitation rates of Arctic grayling were estimated to range from 10% to 20% in some streams during the early 1990s. More recent estimates for the Niukluk and Fish rivers suggest that annual exploitation in 31

40 these streams has been less than 5% over the past 10 years. In addition, guided anglers have caught almost 19,000 grayling in the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound subarea for the years but harvested just 77 fish (Sigurdsson and Powers In prep). These data suggest a change in angler motivation away from harvest as a primary reason for fishing. Kotzebue Subarea In the Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea subarea, Arctic grayling harvests for the years have ranged between 366 and 626 fish (Table 15). Catches over the same period have ranged quite widely from 2,385 in 2010 to 7,169 in In 2014, the harvest and catch were way below recent averages, at 237 and 904 fish, respectively. The percentage of catch that was harvested has averaged about 12% annually over the recent 5-year period (Table 15). Most Arctic grayling from this subarea are harvested in association with float trips or while fishing for other species. It is likely that harvests will remain relatively stable or below recent averages until participation in this subarea increases significantly. Fishery Objectives and Management Research on status of resident Arctic grayling populations in the rivers accessible from the road system in Northern Norton Sound has been ongoing for approximately 20 years. Arctic grayling in Northwestern Alaska may live for more than 20 years and attain a large size. Data collection on population abundance, age, and size composition by river throughout this period has allowed the development of regulations tailored to individual rivers or groups of rivers that share population characteristics. Overall management objectives for these Arctic grayling populations are to maintain a given abundance of fish 15 inches in length in populations, and to allow for population recovery in systems that have been stressed by overexploitation. The areawide bag and possession limits are 5 fish per day, with only 1 fish 15 inches or longer. This bag limit is appropriate for drainages with Arctic grayling populations that have characteristics of lightly exploited populations. These characteristics include large average size and a high proportion of sexually mature fish that are 7 years of age or older in the population. Abundance is directly related to the river s size and flow characteristics; therefore, both abundance and population density may vary by river. Rivers that share these characteristics and regulations include the Fish/Niukluk River system and the Eldorado and Sinuk rivers. On the other extreme are overexploited populations where abundance is very low. Rivers like the Nome and Solomon are in this category. These rivers are closed to all fishing for Arctic grayling. Populations intermediate between these 2 categories include those in the Pilgrim and Snake rivers. These populations contain a smaller proportion of sexually mature fish. They have been affected somewhat by harvest, but Arctic grayling are still relatively abundant and populations appear stable. In these rivers, the regulations allow harvest of 2 Arctic grayling per day, with only 1 over 15 inches. Populations are assessed periodically to estimate whether they are maintaining desired characteristics. Recent stock assessments of Arctic grayling populations in road-accessible waters suggest that the current management approach is working and that population size and size compositions are being sustained. Management objectives have not been developed for remote Arctic grayling waters of the remainder of the Seward Peninsula or the Kotzebue subarea. Anglers rarely visit these waters, and populations are presumed to be unexploited. General regulations for these waters provide for a bag and possession limit of 5 fish, with no size limit. Until effort and harvests increase dramatically, it is likely that regulations will remain unchanged. 32

41 In 2004, the Wild Arctic Grayling Management Plan was adopted. The plan created 3 management approaches with associated regulatory options: regional, conservative, and special management. The regulations adopted under the regional management approach (5-fish bag and possession limit, season open year-round) did change the general Arctic grayling regulations in the NW/NSMA from 10 to 5 fish, with the exceptions of the Dalton Highway Corridor, Northern Norton Sound, and the Unalakleet River drainage, which already had bag limits of 5 fish, and those fisheries classified under the conservative and special management approach. The Snake and Pilgrim rivers are classified under the conservative management approach, and the Nome and Solomon rivers are classified under special management. Current Issues and Fishery Outlook There is concern on the part of the public and ADF&G staff that populations of Arctic grayling in the vicinity of Nome that are road accessible, especially the Nome and Solomon rivers, have been overexploited and may not recover for many years. The abundance of fish 15 inches has declined since 1999 (DeCicco 2007). The Nome River population has shown little change in abundance over the past several years. An experimental restoration project in 1998 to increase survival of young-of-the-year Arctic grayling by rearing them in a gravel pit failed (DeCicco 2004). Additional restoration efforts were conducted more recently using a different rearing pond, and in 2002 and 2003, a total of 1,574 pen-reared Arctic grayling were released into the Nome River. The population was reassessed in 2005 to estimate the abundance and contribution of pen-reared fish into the Nome River. Although the number of small fish captured was insufficient to estimate abundance, more were captured than in past assessments, indicating that there may be an increase in smaller Arctic grayling in this river. By 2009, it was believed that these fish should be large enough to be recruited to the sampling gear for a stock assessment to estimate abundance. In June 2009, catches were so low that samples sizes were not met in order to estimate abundance. Other road-accessible populations would be vulnerable to overexploitation if fishing practices and motivations were to change; however, at this time other populations appear to be stable and are able to sustain the current low levels of catch and harvest. Northwestern Alaska, particularly waters of the Seward Peninsula, provides some of the best opportunities in the state to capture large (e.g. >18 in) Arctic grayling. Under the current regulations, it appears that these trophy fisheries are being maintained. Populations in the Fish and Niukluk rivers have recovered from relatively low levels of abundance in the early 1990s, and the outlook in these rivers is promising. Populations in both the Pilgrim and Sinuk rivers are slightly larger than when last assessed and appear to be sustaining current levels of exploitation, and the population in the Pilgrim River appears stable. Recent Board of Fisheries Actions No actions were taken specific to NW/NSMA Arctic grayling fisheries at either the 2010 or 2013 BOF meetings. Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities In 2013, a stock assessment project was conducted to estimate abundance of Arctic grayling in a 14 mi (22 km) index area of the Niukluk River from the outlet of the Casadepaga River to the village of Council. Using mark-recapture techniques, 10,715 fish (SE = 1,369) 350 mm FL were estimated in this index area (Gryska In prep b), well above the desired minimum abundance of 3,500 fish 350 mm FL for this index area. No other stock assessment projects on Nome 33

42 roadside Arctic grayling populations are planned for the near future. A management plan is being updated to specifically address Nome roadside Arctic grayling fisheries using bag and possession limits based on specific threshold abundances, and to establish precision criteria for estimates of abundance generated from future stock assessments (Scanlon In prep). KOTZEBUE SOUND SHEEFISH Background and Historical Perspective Within the NW/NSMA, spawning stocks of sheefish occur only in the Kobuk and Selawik rivers (Alt 1975) with the exception of a small population that resides in the Koyuk River of Norton Bay. Sporadic catches of sheefish have been recorded in the Serpentine River upstream of Shishmaref, but it is not known if they spawn there (Jim Menard, Area Biologist, ADF&G, Nome, personal communication). The drainages of Kotzebue Sound are known for the large size of sheefish available to the sport angler. These remote trophy sport fisheries are considered by many to be among the pinnacle of Alaskan freshwater sport fishing. Since the inception of ADF&G s Trophy Fish Program in 1967, all but 2 of the qualifying sheefish have come from the Kobuk River. Kotzebue Sound sheefish are distributed throughout the nearshore estuarine areas of Kotzebue Sound. The major concentration occurs in Hotham Inlet but also occurs in the Sheshalik and Krusenstern areas and in southern Kotzebue Sound (Figure 5). Nearly all sheefish occupying the estuarine environment during summer are immature or nonspawning adults. Adult prespawning fish move upstream during summer on the Kobuk and Selawik rivers to spawn in the fall. The Kobuk River stock spawns upstream from the village of Kobuk, with the greatest observed concentrations between the Mauneluk River and Beaver River. After spawning is complete in late September or early October, fish disperse to downstream overwintering areas. Tag recoveries have shown that the 2 stocks mix in Hotham Inlet winter habitats but maintain fidelity to their spawning areas. Kotzebue Sound sheefish support subsistence, commercial, and sport fisheries. Subsistence fishing is given priority and is currently unrestricted, with little reliable harvest reporting. The commercial fishery and much of the subsistence harvest takes place through the ice while sport fisheries are mainly summer and fall activities. The same populations of sheefish contribute to all harvests. The annual commercial sales of sheefish in Kotzebue ranged from 0 to 850 fish between 1991 and No commercial catch was reported for the years , although several hundred fish are caught each year while commercial fishing for chum salmon and are kept for personal use (Menard et al. In prep). Much of the whitefish subsistence harvest including sheefish occurs by jigging through the ice in Hotham Inlet in the spring. In 2011, residents of Selawik harvested 250,000 lbs of whitefish, of which 28% were sheefish (Fall et al. 2014), and in 2012 the residents of the 5 Kobuk River villages (Kiana, Amber, Shungnak, Kobuk, and Noorvik) harvested 214,000 lbs of whitefish, of which 47% were sheefish (Braem et al. 2013). Sheefish are also taken by jigging lures under the ice in Hotham Inlet and Selawik Lake, but harvests are poorly documented. Overall, it is likely that 15,000 25,000 sheefish are taken for subsistence annually in Northwestern Alaska. The Division of Sport Fish conducted studies of the ecology, movements, and growth of sheefish between 1966 and Much of this work was conducted in Northwestern Alaska and was summarized by Alt (1987). After conducting a feasibility experiment in 1994, ADF&G Division 34

43 of Sport Fish, in cooperation with the NPS, began a project to estimate abundance of sheefish spawning in the Kobuk River. This project continued through 1997 and established baseline estimates on spawner abundance, age, size, and sex composition of the spawning population. Tag-recovery data indicated that although some sheefish were capable of spawning in consecutive years, most spawned every other year. However, more recent results from radiotelemetry research conducted on the Kobuk River sheefish population showed that anywhere from 18% to 49% of Kobuk River sheefish exhibit sequential-year spawning, including males and females. This evidence suggests that Kobuk River sheefish choosing a particular spawning strategy are not solely influenced by the energetic requirements needed to spawn (Savereide 2013). Spawner abundance in the Kobuk River was estimated at approximately 32,000 fish in 1995, 43,000 fish in 1996, and 33,000 fish in 1997 (Taube and Wuttig 1998). The USFWS (Underwood et al. 1998) estimated the abundance of sheefish spawning in the Selawik River at 5,200 fish in 1995 and 5,150 fish in Anecdotal reports based on catches by residents of Kotzebue, Sheshalik, and Kobuk River villages indicate that sheefish abundance appears high. The USFWS repeated abundance estimates in the Selawik River in 2004 and Estimates indicated that spawner abundance was approximately 24,000 fish in 2004 and 46,000 fish in 2005 (Hander et al. 2008). Most of the increase was in the smaller size classes of spawners and indicates strong recruitment into the spawning population. Most sheefish sport fishing effort in the NW/NSMA occurs on the Kobuk River spawning population. Most areawide subsistence harvest of sheefish occurs on the entire (spawners and nonspawners) population. When taken in combination, recent annual sport harvests of about 450 fish are easily sustainable (Table 16). Although spawner abundances have been periodically estimated, the total size of the areawide population is not known, and the sport harvest must be viewed in relation to other ongoing harvests. Recent data support the assumption that subsistence harvests are much greater than either commercial or sport harvests (Fall et al. 2014). In order to ensure sustained yields from these population(s), a management approach involving subsistence and commercial fisheries for sheefish is recommended. Sheefish are very fecund fish with some large females containing over 400,000 eggs. Such populations may be subject to episodic recruitment events depending on environmental conditions. If spawner abundances are maintained above some threshold level, intermittent years of good recruitment should carry the population through years when environmental conditions are less favorable. Recent Fishery Performance Estimated annual sport harvests of sheefish by anglers in Northwestern Alaska since 1993 have fluctuated from a high of about 2,500 fish to a low of about 60 fish with an average annual harvest of 450 fish for the years (Table 16). In 2014, the harvest was 244 fish and the catch was 1,214 fish, both well below recent averages (Table 16). Average sheefish catch for the years was 1,891 fish, indicating that about 75% of all sheefish captured in Northwestern Alaska by sport anglers are released. In a 1997 experiment to determine hooking mortality rates of sheefish in the Kobuk River, the mortality of fish caught and released on sport fishing gear was found to be low (3.3% for treble-hook lures and 1.7% for single-hook lures; Stuby and Taube 1998). Overall, mortality was 2.4%. In spite of the worldwide reputation of this destination, the level of fishing effort is still quite low. The 5-year ( ) average effort on the Kobuk River was 1,550 angler-days (Table 4). The Kobuk River accounted for about 62% of the overall estimated freshwater sport fishing effort in the Kotzebue subarea (3,860 total anglerdays) in 2014 (Table 4). 35

44 Fishery Objectives and Management The Kobuk River sheefish fishery is managed to maintain opportunity to participate in this unique high-quality sport fishery while keeping harvests from spawning areas low. In order to accommodate local use of this resource downstream from major spawning areas, the bag limit is 10 sheefish downstream of the Mauneluk River. In the spawning area upstream of the Mauneluk River, the bag and possession limit is 2 fish. The majority of anglers visiting the Kobuk River to fish for sheefish use the area upstream of the Mauneluk River. The Selawik River has similar regulations, with the bag and possession limit of 10 sheefish downstream of the Tagagawik River, and a bag and possession limit of 2 sheefish upstream of this tributary. Current Issues and Fishery Outlook Alaska Native residents of Kobuk River villages have expressed concern over some practices of sport anglers on the Upper Kobuk River in the vicinity of the sheefish spawning grounds. Catchand-release fishing is considered by some local residents to be disrespectful and damaging to the fish. Discarding filleted carcasses in the water is thought by some to drive other sheefish away from the area. Catch-and-release fishing is viewed as a conservation tool by ADF&G and by many anglers, and although sheefish may be sensitive to rough handling, ADF&G has demonstrated that they can be released without significant mortality. An educational brochure explaining proper catch-and-release techniques for sheefish was developed in association with the NPS in Kotzebue and is made available to those fishing on the Upper Kobuk River. It is hoped that with proper handling, impacts of catch-and-release fishing to the spawning population can be minimized. The outlook for sheefish fisheries in Northwestern Alaska is good in the immediate future. Although overall harvest levels are substantial, populations and spawner abundances appear stable and sport harvests are low. Recent Board of Fisheries and Management Actions No proposals were submitted specific to the Northwest Area sheefish fisheries for the 2010 and 2013 BOF meetings. Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities Recent research conducted cooperatively with the USFWS and the NPS has provided substantial background data on spawner abundance for the 2 stocks comprising the Kobuk-Selawik sheefish population. These data will be used as a baseline for comparing future population assessments. In 2008, ADF&G, in cooperation with USFWS, began a 5-year study on the Kobuk River sheefish population using radiotelemetry to determine spawning locations, spawning frequency, and timing of postspawner outmigration to Hotham Inlet (Savereide 2013). In 2011, USFWS began a study of the genetic composition of the wintertime subsistence harvest in Hotham Inlet, specifically to see what proportion comes from the Selawik River stock and what proportion is from the Kobuk River. Unfortunately, the number of samples from each population did not provide sufficient differentiation to perform mixed-stock analysis at the level needed for this study, and simulation results indicated additional baseline samples were needed (Hander et al. 2013a). In 2004, a permafrost slump located approximately 31 mi (50 km) upstream from the Selawik River spawning area for sheefish began to deposit a large amount of silt into the river, and the 36

45 hillside has continued to erode during the open water season. It has been speculated that the effects could potentially affect spawning success for sheefish in the Selawik River by clogging interstitial spaces in the gravel and cobble substrate where fertilized eggs are thought to settle and develop through the winter (Waters 1995). In fall 2011, USFWS initiated an experiment to look for any effects of the thaw slump on recruitment and survival of eggs deposited after the slump occurred, using the Kobuk River population as a control. Comparison of cumulative age distributions of Selawik and Kobuk River collections for 2011 and 2012 indicated a younger sample from the Kobuk River in both years (Hander et al. 2013b). Beginning in 2011, the USFWS used a DIDSON sonar to enumerate the outmigration of sheefish during their late- September to mid-october post-spawning migration to their wintering grounds. Counts ranged from 5,665 fish in 2014 to 24,901 fish in 2013 (Hander et al. 2015); however, in all years ice formation on the river precluded the use of the sonar throughout the outmigration and these counts should be considered minimum estimates. In 2014, ADF&G initiated a project to enumerate the post-spawning outmigration of sheefish in the Kobuk River using sonar during their late-september to mid-october post-spawning migration to their wintering grounds in Hotham Inlet, as part of a larger fishery inventory and monitoring project related to the potential construction of a road from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District near the village of Ambler. Over 9,300 sheefish were counted moving downriver between September 19 and October 6; however, cold temperatures and icy conditions precluded the project from counting throughout the outmigration (James Savereide, Fishery Biologist, ADF&G, Fairbanks, personal communication). This project was discontinued in 2015 but will likely resume in 2016 under a different source of project funding. NORTH SLOPE DOLLY VARDEN AND ARCTIC CHAR Background and Historical Perspective In the North Slope subarea of the NW/NSMA, Arctic char occur in lakes of the north-facing drainages of the Brooks Mountain Range. The closely-related Dolly Varden are common inhabitants of most large rivers on the North Slope in most drainages of the eastern coastal plain from the Canadian Border to the Colville River. ADF&G groups Dolly Varden and Arctic char together for regulatory purposes, primarily because of the difficulty of distinguishing between them based solely on physical appearance; however, the 2 species have distinct life history traits. Because distribution of Arctic char is limited in the North Slope subarea, essentially all fisheries are directed toward Dolly Varden. Dolly Varden are a major component of the harvest and catch in the North Slope area, contributing more than 22% of the harvest and 29% of the catch for the primary sport species for the years (Table 17). On the North Slope, most sport fisheries for char target overwintering populations of Dolly Varden either in the fall as the fish return to freshwater from the sea or in the spring as they move toward the sea to feed, although some prespawning fish are caught in late summer. On the North Slope, Dolly Varden spawn and overwinter in upwelling areas. Dolly Varden become increasingly concentrated in the spring areas beneath and adjacent to the inriver glaciers (aufeis) that form during winter. Streams that are known to support significant populations of Dolly Varden in the North Slope subarea include the Ivishak, Kongakut, Hulahula, Canning, Sagavanirktok, and Anaktuvuk rivers (Figure 6). Overwintering locations are, in some cases, different from spawning locations such that nonspawning fish from several neighboring 37

46 tributaries may concentrate in a single drainage. The Upper Ivishak River, a tributary of the Sagavanirktok River, provides a large overwintering area used by fish in nonspawning years from nearby tributaries such as the Ribdon, Lupine, and Echooka rivers. The population of Dolly Varden using the Sagavanirktok River is considered potentially vulnerable because of habitat degradation resulting from oil and gas development that has occurred in Prudhoe Bay (Sagavanirktok River Delta). Access for anglers to the migratory route of this stock is provided by the Dalton Highway, which parallels most of the mainstem of the Sagavanirktok River. In 1994, the entire length of the Dalton Highway was opened to public travel. Prior to this, the North Slope portion of the road was technically open only as far north as the Wiseman area in the Upper Koyukuk River drainage. Aerial surveys of index areas in several North Slope rivers, mostly in the Ivishak, Hulahula, and Anaktuvuk rivers, have been conducted periodically since 1971 to monitor the Dolly Varden stocks, although no surveys have been conducted since 2008 (Viavant 2009). These count have ranged from 2,700 to 36,000 fish, with the largest counts coming from the Ivishak River. Research conducted by ADF&G and funded by USFWS-OSM for the years used radiotelemetry, mark-recapture abundance estimates, and aerial surveys to demonstrate that aerial surveys of overwintering aggregations of Dolly Varden in North Slope drainage can be used as an indicator of overwintering abundance (Viavant , 2005, 2008, 2009). A large increase in fishing effort and catch of Dolly Varden and the other 2 key sport species (Arctic grayling and lake trout) was anticipated with the opening of the entire length of the Dalton Highway to public travel in 1994, and again with the improvement of the roadway south of Atigun Pass in 2001 and Estimates from the SWHS do not indicate that this increase has occurred (Table 18). Recent Fishery Performance Estimates of catch and harvest of Dolly Varden from the North Slope subarea suggest a sustainable level of use. Total average annual catch has been 4,129 fish and average harvest has been 471 fish for the years (Table 17). In 2014, harvest was estimated to be 578 Dolly Varden, with a total catch of 4,974 fish. Historically, about 68% of the total catch and harvest of Dolly Varden has come from waters adjacent to the Dalton Highway. Fishery Objectives and Management Fishery management for Dolly Varden and Arctic char reflects the different life history characteristics that these 2 closely related species exhibit. Dolly Varden (which inhabit streams and are often anadromous) can be exploited at much higher rates than can lake-dwelling Arctic char. The life history characteristics of lake-dwelling Arctic char are very similar to lake trout, and it is likely that most of these populations can support only low rates of exploitation. In lakes, Arctic char are managed to provide a conservative level of yield. In streams, Dolly Varden are managed to encourage participation in the fishery while limiting harvest of spawning adults. Current Issues and Fishery Outlook There is a concern among indigenous people of the North Slope that a growing sport fishery for Dolly Varden may conflict with local subsistence fisheries. 38

47 Oil and gas development adjacent to and within the migration routes of Dolly Varden in North Slope waters carries the potential for serious effects through contamination or alteration of habitat. Dolly Varden using the Sagavanirktok River drainage pass through Prudhoe Bay, one of the most heavily industrialized areas in Alaska. Current plans for oil and gas leases in the foothill region of National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska are of particular concern. These new lease areas include the critical overwintering spawning habitat in the spring areas of the Anaktuvuk River drainage. Seismic surveys are planned for the portions of the Sagavanirktok, Anaktuvuk, and Canning rivers that are the primary spawning and overwintering habitats for these Dolly Varden stocks. ADF&G staff continue to assert that these critical habitats must be excluded from all surface development and that travel routes must be redirected. Recent studies in the Sagavanirktok River drainage (Viavant 2005) indicated a declining abundance of overwintering and spawning Dolly Varden (Table 18); however, these surveys have not been conducted since 2008 and therefore more recent abundances are not known. Fluctuations in the abundance of Dolly Varden stocks on the North Slope have been previously reported (Yoshihara 1973; Bendock and Burr 1984). The results from the radiotelemetry study show that the specific locations of critical spawning and overwintering habitat used by anadromous Dolly Varden in the Beaufort Sea drainages may change significantly between years within a relatively large area within a drainage (Viavant 2003). Protection of such habitat should not be based on locations determined from only a single or even a few seasons. Dolly Varden will probably continue to provide a substantial portion of the sport fishery that occurs on the North Slope. The waters within the Dalton Highway corridor will continue to support most of the total catch and harvest of Dolly Varden in the North Slope subarea. Increased numbers of visitors are reportedly taking float trips on streams (Kongakut, Hulahula, Canning rivers) in ANWR. Modest increases in catch and harvest of Dolly Varden can be anticipated with the increased visitor use of the area. Recent Board of Fisheries Actions No proposals were submitted specific to the North Slope Dolly Varden/Arctic char fisheries for the 2010 and 2013 BOF meetings. Current or Recommended Research and Management Activities While there is substantial information regarding the freshwater ecology of Dolly Varden from rivers on the North Slope, there is little direct information about their summer ocean ecology and distribution. Therefore, in 2014, researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and ADF&G attempted to use pop-up satellite archival (P-SAT) tags to study the oceanic habits, distribution, and migration patterns of non-spawning Dolly Varden that summer in the Beaufort Sea. In June and July 2014, 13 PSAT tags were deployed in large Dolly Varden (9 in the Ivishak River, 4 in the marine waters near Kaktovik) to examine temperature, depth, and daily geolocation estimates. Of these 13 tagged fish, 5 never left the Ivishak River and likely moved upstream to spawn, 1 was found in the Kongakut River, 2 were found in the Hulahula River, 2 sent brief transmissions but no fixed location was made, and 3 were never heard from again. It appears that most, if not all, of the fish we tagged were spawning fish, and inability to identify non-spawning fish for tagging precluded researchers from getting information on marine movements and feeding behavior (Seitz and Scanlon 2015). Tag deployment strategies were 39

48 modified for 2015 in attempt to better target non-spawning fish that will spend time in the Chukchi Sea to feed, and preliminary data from 22 fish show larger proportions of time spent at liberty in marine waters (Michael Courtney, Graduate Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks, personal communication). Re-establishment of annual aerial index counts of the Ivishak and Anaktuvuk rivers overwintering areas is recommended. Annual monitoring of these stocks is important, particularly in light of apparent declining abundance of Dolly Varden in the area and the increased oil and gas development activity in this area. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author thanks Tim Viavant, Region III Management Coordinator, for guidance and editorial assistance; Klaus Wuttig, Area Management Biologist, for peer review; and Rachael Kvapil, Region III Publications Technician, for assistance in final report preparation. 40

49 REFERENCES CITED Alt, K. T A life history study of sheefish and whitefish in Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Federal Aid in Fish Restoration, Annual Performance Report, , Project F-9-7, (16)R-II, Juneau. Alt, K. T Review of sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys) studies in Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Manuscript No. 3, Juneau. Bendock, T. N., and J. M. Burr Inventory and cataloging of Arctic area waters. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Federal Aid in Fish Restoration, Annual Performance Report, , Project F-9-16, 25(G-I-I), Juneau. Braem, N. M., J. S. Magdanz, D. S. Koster, P. Fox Subsistence harvests in Northwest Alaska: Selawik, ADF&G Division of Subsistence, Technical Paper No Burr, J. M AYK lake trout management plan. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No , Anchorage. Clark, R. A An evaluation of estimates of sport fish harvest from the Alaska statewide harvest survey, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Special Publication No , Anchorage. Crane, P., F. DeCicco, B. Spearman, and J. Wenburg Genetic diversity of Dolly Varden populations in Norton and Kotzebue Sounds. Alaska Fisheries Technical Report 80, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Seward Peninsula Arctic grayling study Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Seward Peninsula Arctic grayling study Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L. 1992a. Assessment of Dolly Varden overwintering in selected streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L. 1992b. Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L. 1993a. Assessment of Dolly Varden overwintering in selected streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L. 1993b. Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams and a survey of Salmon Lake, Seward Peninsula, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Assessment of selected stocks of Arctic grayling in streams of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Niukluk River Arctic grayling stock assessment, Seward Peninsula, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. 41

50 REFERENCES CITED (Continued) DeCicco, A. L Over-wintering areas used by Dolly Varden in the Nome, Solomon, and Bonanza rivers, Seward Peninsula, Alaska 2000/2001. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Stock assessment of Arctic grayling in the Nome River, and age validation of Arctic grayling in the Eldorado River, Seward Peninsula, Alaska Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Nome River Arctic grayling restoration, Seward Peninsula, Alaska 2002 and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L Stock assessment of Arctic grayling in the Nome River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L., and A. D. Gryska Length and age at maturity of Arctic grayling in the Snake River during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. DeCicco, A. L., and M. J. Wallendorf Fish River Arctic grayling stock assessment, Seward Peninsula, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Fall, J. L., N. M. Braem, C. L. Brown, S. S. Evans, L. Hutchinson-Scarbrough, B. Jones, R. La Vine, T. Lemons, M. A. Marchioni, E. Mikow, J. T. Ream, and L. A. Sill Alaska subsistence and personal use salmon fisheries 2012 Annual Report. ADF&G Division of Subsistence, Technical Paper No Gryska, A. D Abundance and length and age composition of Arctic grayling in the Snake River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Gryska, A. D Abundance and length and age composition of Arctic grayling in the Pilgrim River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Gryska, A. D. In prep a. Abundance and length and age composition of Arctic grayling in the Snake River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series, Anchorage. Gryska, A. D. In prep b. Abundance and length and age composition of Arctic grayling in the Niukluk River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series, Anchorage. Gryska, A. D., and B. D. Taras Abundance and length composition of Arctic grayling in the Niukluk River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Hamazaki, T., L. I. Wilson, and G. L. Todd Sockeye salmon studies in Salmon Lake; limnology and fishery investigations relative to a nutrient addition program, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Hander, R. F., R. J. Brown, and T. J. Underwood Comparison of Inconnu spawning abundance estimates in the Selawik River, 1995, 2004, and 2005, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska Fisheries Technical Report Number 99, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks Fishery Resource Office, Fairbanks. Hander, R. F., J. Olson, J. Savereide, R. J. Brown, J. K. Wenburg, A. Whiting, and O. L. Schlei. 2013a. Genetic mixed-stock analysis and composition of inconnu from the Hotham Inlet and Selawik Lake winter subsistence gillnet fishery. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS10-104, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Hander, R. F., and R. J. Brown. 2013b. Selawik River inconnu age structure evaluation and spawning population abundance. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS12-100, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. 42

51 REFERENCES CITED (Continued) Hander, R. F., R. J. Brown, and W. K. Carter III Selawik River inconnu age structure evaluation and spawning population abundance. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS15-100, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Joy, P Abundance and age and length compositions of Arctic grayling in the Sinuk River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Joy, P., and D. J. Reed Estimation of coho salmon abundance and spawning distribution in the Unalakleet River Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series 07-48, Anchorage. Joy, P., and D. J. Reed Estimation of Chinook salmon abundance and spawning distribution in the Unalakleet River Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series 14-38, Anchorage. Magdanz, J. S., N. S. Braem, B. C. Robbins, and D. S. Koster Subsistence harvests in Northwest Alaska, Kivalina and Noatak, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence, Technical Paper No. 354, Kotzebue. Magdanz, J. S., H. Smith, N. Braem, P. Fox, D. S. Koster Patterns and trends in subsistence fish harvests, Northwest Alaska, ADF&G Division of Subsistence, Technical Paper No Menard, J., J. Soong, S. Kent, L. Harlan, and J. Leon. In prep Annual management report Norton Sound-Port Clarence Area, and Arctic-Kotzebue. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report, Anchorage. Mills, M. J., and A. L. Howe An evaluation of estimates of sport fish harvest from the Alaska statewide mail survey. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Special Publication No , Anchorage. Munro, A. R., and E. C. Volk Summary of Pacific salmon escapement goals in Alaska with a review of escapements from 2004 to Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Manuscript Series No , Anchorage. Ridder, W. P., T. R. McKinley, and R. A. Clark Stock assessment of Arctic grayling in the Salcha, Chatanika, and Goodpaster rivers during Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Ridder, W. P Characteristics of the spring population of Arctic grayling in the Chena River in 1998 and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Savereide, J. W Spawning location, run timing, and spawning frequency of Kobuk River sheefish. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS12-103, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Scanlon, B Assessment of the Dolly Varden spawning population in Kagvik Creek, Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Scanlon, B Fishery management report for sport fisheries in the Northwest/North Slope Management Area, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No , Anchorage. Scanlon, B. In prep. Fishery management plan for Arctic grayling sport fisheries along the Nome Road System, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report, Anchorage. Scanlon, B., and A. L. DeCicco Fishery Management Report for sport fisheries in the Northwest Alaska regulatory areas, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No , Anchorage. Schwanke, C. J Evaluation of the overwintering Dolly Varden population in the Noatak River. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS12-104, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. 43

52 REFERENCES CITED (Continued) Seitz, A. C. and B. P. Scanlon Dispersal patterns and summer ocean distribution of adult Dolly Varden in the Beaufort Sea using satellite telemetry. Annual Project Report No. FIS14-103, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Seitz, A. C., M. B. Courtney, and B. P. Scanlon Dispersal patterns and summer ocean distribution of adult Dolly Varden from the Wulik River, Alaska, evaluated using satellite telemetry. Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management, Coastal Marine Institute Final Report for OCS Study BOEM , Fairbanks. Sigurdsson, D., and B. Powers Participation, effort, and harvest in the sport fish business/guide licensing and logbook programs, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Special Publication No , Anchorage. Sigurdsson, D. and B. Powers. In Prep. Participation, effort, and harvest in the sport fish business/guide licensing and logbook programs, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series, Anchorage. Soong, J., A. Banducci, S. Kent, and J. Menard Annual management report Norton Sound, Port Clarence, and Kotzebue. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No , Anchorage. Stuby, L., and T. Taube Mortality of sheefish captured and released on sport fishing gear in the Kobuk River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Taube, T. T., and K. Wuttig Abundance and composition of sheefish in the Kobuk River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Manuscript Report No , Anchorage. Underwood, T., K. Whitten, and K. Secor Population characteristics of spawning Inconnu (sheefish) in the Selawik River, Alaska, , Final Report. Alaska Fisheries Technical Report Number 49, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks Fishery Resource Office, Fairbanks. US Census Bureau United States Census Bureau 2010 Census: Census interactive population search. (accessed December 2012). Viavant, T Eastern North Slope Dolly Varden spawning and over-wintering assessment feasibility. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Final Project Report No. FIS00-002, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Viavant, T Eastern North Slope Dolly Varden genetic stock identification and stock assessment. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Viavant, T Eastern North Slope Dolly Varden genetic stock identification and stock assessment. Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Annual Project Report No. FIS , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Viavant, T Eastern North Slope Dolly Varden stock assessment. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Viavant, T Aerial monitoring of Dolly Varden overwintering abundance in the Anaktuvuk, Ivishak, Canning, Hulahula, and Kongakut rivers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program, 2008 Annual Report (Study No ). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fishery Information Services Division, Anchorage. Viavant, T Aerial monitoring of Dolly Varden overwintering abundance in the Anaktuvuk, Ivishak, Canning, and Hulahula rivers, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Viavant, T Abundance and length composition of Arctic grayling in the Fish River, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. 44

53 REFERENCES CITED (Continued) Waters, T. F Sediment in streams; sources, biological effects, and control. Fisheries Society Monograph 7, Bethesda, Maryland. Wuttig, K. G Escapement of Chinook salmon in the Unalakleet River in Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 98-8, Anchorage. Wuttig, K. G Escapement of Chinook salmon in the Unalakleet River in Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No , Anchorage. Yoshihara, H. T Monitoring and evaluation of Arctic waters with emphasis on the North Slope drainages. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Federal Aid in Fish Restoration, Annual Performance Report, , Project F-9-5, 14 (G-III-A) Part B, Juneau. 45

54 46

55 TABLES AND FIGURES 47

56 Table 1. Commercial salmon and Dolly Varden harvest from the Norton Sound and Kotzebue districts, Year Chinook Salmon Sockeye Salmon Norton Sound Coho Salmon Pink Salmon Chum Salmon Chum Salmon Kotzebue Dolly Varden , ,548 6, , , , , , , , ,560 25, , ,296 51, , ,983 75, , , , ,136 3,769 22, , ,309 75,525 25, ,550 1, ,041 17,364 34, , ,079 31, , ,343 1, ,917 7, , , , ,498 62, , ,802 8, , , , , , , Average ,577 34,903 56, , Average ,709 53,975 88, , Source: Menard et al. In prep.

57 49 Table 2. Salmon escapement goals and documented salmon escapements in Norton Sound, River/Fish Escapement Goal Type Nome River Chum 2,900-4,300 SEG-Weir 3,903 5,584 4,128 7,034 2,607 1,565 5,906 3,582 1,987 b 4,811 5,589 Pink 13,000 (even years) 1,051, , ,550 24,395 1,186,554 16, ,760 14, ,119 10,257 96,397 Coho 2,283 5,848 8,126 2,437 4,605 1,370 4,114 1, b 2,624 2,637 Snake River Chum 1,600-2,500 SEG-Weir 2,145 2,967 4,128 8,147 1, ,973 4, b 2,755 3,983 Pink 126,917 13,813 73,734 4, , ,099 7,011 5,954 b 1,333 19,536 Coho 474 a 2,925 4,926 1,781 5, b 2, b 14 b 1,203 1,424 Eldorado River Chum 6,000-9,200 SEG-Weir 3,273 10,426 41,985 21,312 6,746 4,943 21,211 16,227 13,348 b 26,121 27,054 Pink 60,861 12,356 22, ,641 1,119 48, ,318 b 1,029 46,746 Pilgrim River Chum 10,228 9,715 45,410 35,334 25,008 5,427 25,379 41,740 25,521 47,557 25,634 Pink 50,757 13,298 18,701 3,616 92, ,237 3,364 46,134 1,060 4,197 Sockeye 85,520 56,484 52,223 43,432 20, ,654 8,849 7,085 12,428 9,719 Salmon Lake Sockeye 4,800-9,600 SEG-Aerial 25,860 42,240 41,780 20,612 11, ,144 5,830 6,027 5,303 Niukluk River Chum >23,000 SEG-Tower 10,791 25,596 29,199 50,994 12,078 15,879 48,561 23,607 19,576 c c Pink >10,500 SEG-Tower 1,022, ,424 1,371,919 43, ,234 24, ,205 15, ,212 c c Coho 2,400-6,100 SEG-Tower 1,833 b 2,727 11,169 3,498 13,779 6,861 9,042 2,405 1,729 b c c Fish River Chinook Chum ,100 Pink ,777 Coho ,929 North River Chinook 1,200-2,600 SEG-Tower 1,105 1, , ,352 1, ,328 Chum 9,624 11,984 5,385 8,046 9,502 9,783 16,131 19,898 9,042 b 10,518 11,706 Pink >25,000 SEG-Tower 1,149,294 1,670,934 2,169, , , , , , ,674 b 46, ,838 Coho 9,646 19,189 9,835 19,944 15,648 22,226 7,608 3,624 3,036 b 8,834 4,380 Unalakleet River Chinook ,021 1, ,126 Chum , ,731 71, ,953 97,097 Pink , , , ,225 1,180,217 Coho ,382 10,560 17,054 25,566 42,089 continued-

58 Table 2. Salmon escapement goals and documented salmon escapements in Norton Sound, River/Fish Escapement Goal Type Kwiniuk River Chinook SEG-Tower Chum 10,000-20,000 OEG-Tower 10,371 12,083 39,519 27,756 9,462 8,739 71,388 31,604 5,577 b 5,631 5,631 Pink >8,400 SEG-Tower 3,045, ,048 1,347,090 54,255 1,442,237 42, ,220 30, ,302 b Coho 650-1,300 SEG-Aerial 10,523 12,950 22,341 9,429 10,680 9,036 8,049 3, b 3,940 3,940 a Incomplete count because of high water; 1,916 coho salmon counted by aerial survey in the Snake River. b Incomplete count because of high water or tower not run through end of season. c Niukluk River tower project discontinued due to loss of land lease for tower site. 50

59 Table 3. Subsistence salmon harvest in the Norton Sound, Port Clarence, and Kotzebue Districts, Norton Sound Port Clarence Kotzebue Year Chinook Sockeye Coho Pink Chum Total Chinook Sockeye Coho Pink Chum Total Chum Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon Salmon , ,455 37,864 12,989 68, ,392 1, ,936 6,233 65, , ,293 29,822 13,963 60, , ,387 1,275 6,520 49, , ,773 56,311 13,095 86, ,692 1,299 1,183 1,910 8,158 16, , ,446 46,336 9,498 72, ,732 2,194 3,394 2,699 12, , ,892 70,945 3,592 90, ,495 1,434 4,113 2,430 12,649 24, , ,127 60,427 13,765 96, ,288 1,031 5,817 2,501 17,913 10, , ,242 56,579 5,992 83, , ,615 2,479 18,464 ND , ,023 21,039 12,048 48, , ,468 4,454 16,196 4, , ,604 54,927 8,709 84, , ,652 2,517 16,022 ND , ,121 26,610 11,337 60, , ,882 3,060 7,429 ND , ,863 42,254 16,201 72, ,202 5,232 1,197 ND , ,538 17,166 14,566 42, , ,610 4,338 9,009 ND , ,573 43,551 12,399 67, , ,200 7,802 15,171 26,693 a ,372 18,045 15,504 48, , ,788 6,588 14,308 ND , ,438 34,318 15,304 65, , ,040 5,085 14,679 ND Average 2, ,130 41,026 10,498 67, , ,305 4,326 14,586 18, Average 1, ,649 29,426 13,523 56, , ,336 5,404 11,567 26,693 Note: ND indicates years when no subsistence harvest survey was conducted. a Includes the villages of Ambler, Kiana, Kobuk, Noatak, Noorvik, and Shungnak only.

60 Table 4. Sport fishing effort (angler-days) by major fisheries and subareas in the NW/NSMA, Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound Subarea Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea Sub-Area North Slope Sub-Area NW/NSMA Haul Year Nome Fish/Niukluk Unalakleet Snake Sinuk Pilgrim Other Total Noatak Kobuk Wulik Other Total Road Other Total Total ,455 3,324 6, ,385 15,509 1,713 2, ,225 2,325 2,414 4,739 25, ,045 2,484 2, ,899 9,565 2, ,275 5,494 4,256 1,776 6,032 21, ,901 1,646 8, , ,604 16,422 1,218 3, ,171 6,285 2,224 3,808 6,032 28, ,273 3, ,810 12,221 1,855 2, ,830 6,121 1,103 1,607 2,710 21, ,636 2,786 4, ,393 12,404 1,130 2, ,246 5, ,438 3,311 21, ,142 1,954 4, ,044 15,071 1, ,064 1,881 2,471 4,352 22, ,517 1,049 4, , ,010 14,830 2,538 2, ,334 1,298 1,806 3,104 24, ,887 1,483 4,205 1, ,979 16,667 2,935 1, , ,355 4,154 25, ,272 3,842 5,129 1, ,422 21,995 1,621 1, ,222 4,421 3,774 1,825 5,599 32, ,808 3,813 5, ,004 17,000 2,561 3, ,159 7,431 1,813 2,092 3,905 28, ,326 1,844 3,012 1, ,532 10, ,436 3,470 3, ,384 18, ,738 3, ,005 11,340 3, ,523 1,746 1,185 2,931 18, ,914 2,685 2, ,450 10,052 2,593 1, ,970 3,714 1,343 5,057 20, ,093 2,345 4, ,277 11,437 2,336 1, ,175 1,415 1,615 3,030 18, , , ,041 7, , ,860 1,568 2,073 3,641 9, Average 2,632 2,654 4, ,212 14,591 2,077 1, ,877 2,104 1,879 3,983 23, Average 1,773 3,085 3, ,054 12,177 2,247 1, ,914 2,482 1,379 3,861 20,952 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from:

61 Table 5. Sport fish harvest by species in the NW/NSMA, Year Chinook Salmon Coho Salmon Pink Salmon Chum Salmon Sockeye Salmon Dolly Varden/ Arctic Char Lake Trout Arctic Grayling Northern Pike Whitefish Sheefish Burbot ,487 2,439 1, , , , , , , , ,412 1, ,057 4,070 1, , , ,050 2, , , ,302 7, , ,675 1,583 2, ,076 3, , , ,643 5,305 1, , , ,939 1, , , ,147 1, ,927 7,567 2, , , ,579 1, , , ,876 2, , , , , , ,099 3, , , ,367 1,806 2, , , ,378 4, Average 273 7,160 3,467 1, , , Average 86 5,743 1,922 1, , , Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from:

62 Table 6. Sport fish catch by species in the NW/NSMA, Year Chinook Salmon Coho Salmon Pink Salmon Chum Salmon Sockeye Salmon Dolly Varden/ Arctic Char Lake Trout Arctic Grayling Northern Pike Whitefish Sheefish Burbot ,779 13,350 11,670 6, , ,703 2,541 2,179 2, ,162 2,002 6, ,159 1,375 23,840 3,613 2,778 4, ,032 7,406 13,048 6, , ,826 2, , ,314 6,013 8,818 3,159 1,323 17,474 1,175 33,587 2,230 2,226 5, ,006 16,698 42,795 3, ,511 1,139 23,395 4,074 3,409 1, ,086 24,160 25,830 3, ,858 1,193 20,866 1,572 1,210 1, ,592 20,282 24,749 6, ,721 1,197 14,785 2, , ,034 13,449 6,854 6, , ,153 16,578 1,543 1, ,338 39,416 10, , ,145 3,508 1, ,338 8,197 5, , ,878 3,061 1,226 5, ,245 8,244 3, , ,318 3,228 1,621 2, ,042 3,134 6, , , ,430 7,062 4, , ,459 5, ,357 4,147 6, , ,303 1, ,030 8,780 5, , , , Average ,634 17,043 5, , ,198 4,200 1,283 1, Average ,682 6,157 5, , ,527 2, , Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from:

63 Table 7. Chinook salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Harvest Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total Average Average Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total , , , , , , , , , Average Average Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: Catch 55

64 Table 8. Coho salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Harvest Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total ,150 1, ,353 7, , , , , , ,027 3, , ,410 5, , , ,079 7, , , ,671 12, , , , ,029 1, ,134 11, , , ,006 1, , , , ,283 1, , ,068 1, ,064 7, , , Average , ,027 7, Average ,575 1, ,641 Catch Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total ,287 2, ,273 14, ,399 1, , ,691 1, ,522 7, ,832 1, ,603 6, ,655 1, ,376 17, , ,396 1, ,563 26, , ,397 1,320 1, ,232 20, ,967 1, ,547 13, , ,511 7, ,488 28, ,425 2, , ,968 1, ,370 14, ,802 1, , ,696 1, , , ,621 10, ,262 1, , Average 1, ,276 2, ,426 16, Average ,166 1, ,010 12,636 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: 56

65 Table 9. Pink salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Harvest Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total ,064 2, , ,359 4, ,451 2, , , ,368 8, , ,183 3, , , , , ,404 8, , , , , , , , ,343 4, Average 1, , Average ,923 Catch Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total ,982 3, ,618 11, , , , , ,881 13, ,044 3, ,294 8, , ,332 10,176 1, ,430 44, , ,778 1, ,324 25, , , , ,294 24, , , , ,470 3,491 1, ,587 38, , ,404 7, , , ,066 8, , , , , ,565 6, , , , , ,791 8, Average 2, ,770 1, ,193 17, Average 1, , ,076 6,054 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: 57

66 Table 10. Chum salmon sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Harvest Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total , , ,874 2, Average Average Catch Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total , , , ,857 8, , ,132 4, , , , ,168 3, , , , , ,842 3, , ,056 5, , , , , , , , , , ,789 4, , , Average , , Average , ,355 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: 58

67 Table 11. Dolly Varden and Arctic char sport harvest in the NW/NSMA by subarea and river, Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound Harvest Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea Harvest 59 Fish- Niukluk River Other Streams/ Lakes Total Other Streams/ Lakes Salt Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Sinuk Snake Solomon Salt Kobuk Noatak Wulik Grand Year Water River River River River River River Water River River River Total Total , ,462 1, , ,947 9, ,002 1, , , ,123 5, , , ,022 4, , ,857 5, , , , ,433 5, , , , , , , ,066 3,317 6, , , ,296 6, ,062 1, , , , , ,644 5, , , , ,219 1, , , , , ,074 2, Average , , ,429 4, Average , , ,108 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from:

68 Table 12. Dolly Varden and Arctic char sport catch in the NW/NSMA by subarea and river, Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound Catch Kotzebue/Chukchi Sea Catch 60 Fish- Niukluk River Other Streams/ Lakes Total Other Streams/ Lakes Salt Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Sinuk Snake Solomon Salt Kobuk Noatak Wulik Grand Year Water River River River River River River Water River River River Total Total , ,222 2, ,511 2,384 18, ,094 1,721 2,345 1,524 7,965 26, ,769 3, ,411 8, ,595 2, ,766 13, , ,820 8, ,415 1,619 2,139 1,342 6,552 14, , ,284 1, ,872 14, , ,292 18, , ,587 14, , ,777 17, ,299 2, ,231 10, , ,415 13, , , , ,188 10, ,686 4, ,990 18, ,763 1,852 1, ,222 11, , ,734 17, ,154 1, ,723 13, ,748 3, ,641 20, , ,931 16, ,380 2, ,224 22, , , ,675 9, ,837 1, , ,329 3,266 10, , , ,437 6, , , ,645 1, ,927 6, , Average ,935 1, ,474 9, ,848 1, ,409 14, Average , , , ,306 11,190 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from:

69 Table 13. Aerial counts of Dolly Varden spawning in the Noatak River and overwintering in the Wulik and Kivalina rivers, Spawners Nonspawners Year Noatak River Wulik River Kivalina River , ,985 35, ND 135,135 ND , ,138 16, ND 66,752 ND , ,705 28, ,184 61,005 ND 1997 ND 95,412 ND 1998 ND 104,043 ND ,636 70,704 ND 2000 ND ND ND 2001 ND 92,614 ND ,655 44,257 ND 2003 ND ND ND 2004 ND 101,806 ND 2005 ND 120,848 ND 2006 ND 108,352 ND 2007 ND 99,311 ND 2008 ND 71,463 ND 2009 ND 63,997 ND 2010 ND 36,866 ND 2011 ND 64,499 ND 2012 ND 21,084 2 ND 2013 ND 23,312 2 ND 2014 ND 64,351 ND Note: ND indicates years in which no aerial surveys were conducted. 2 Weather and ice conditions poor during surveys in 2012 and 2013, resulting in incomplete counts. 61

70 Table 14. Arctic grayling sport harvest and catch in Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound rivers, Harvest Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total , , ,010 1, , , Average Average Catch Year Nome Pilgrim Unalakleet Fish-Niukluk Sinuk Snake Solomon Other Total ,814 1, , ,331 3, , ,098 9, ,229 6, , ,189 5, ,954 15, ,478 1, , ,137 3, , , , ,375 3, , ,497 4, ,659 9, ,497 6, ,724 13, ,304 3, , ,937 2, , ,442 4, , ,264 3, , , , Average ,560 3, , Average ,889 4, ,914 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: 62

71 Table 15. Arctic grayling sport harvest and catch in the Kotzebue Sound/Chukchi Sea subarea, Harvest Year Kobuk River Noatak River Other Streams Lakes Total , , , , , , , Average Average Catch Year Kobuk River Noatak River Other Streams Lakes Total ,753 1,668 1, , ,103 2, , , , , ,860 3, , , , , , , ,328 1,827 2, , ,191 1, ,975 6, ,722 1, , ,065 2, , ,540 1,559 1, , , , , , ,972 1, , Average 2,416 1, , Average 1,866 1, ,013 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: 63

72 Table 16. Sport fish harvest and catch of sheefish from Northwest Alaska, Total Harvest Kobuk River Selawik River Year Harvest Catch % Harvested Harvest Catch % Harvested Harvest Catch % Harvested ,201 3, , ,305 5, , , , ,509 7, , ,634 2, , , , , , ,066 1, , , , , , , Average 621 2, , Average 450 1, , Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: 64

73 65 Table 17. Sport fishing effort, catch, and harvest of lake trout, Dolly Varden/Arctic char, and Arctic grayling in the North Slope subarea, Angler-days Lake trout Dolly Varden/Arctic char Arctic grayling Year Total Haul Road Total Haul Road Total Haul Road Total Haul Road Harvest ,739 2, , ,032 4, ,589 1, ,032 2, , ,710 1, , , ,352 1, , ,104 1, ,154 1, ,599 3, ,905 1, , ,384 3, ,931 1, ,057 2, ,030 1, ,641 2, Average 3,983 2, Average 3,861 2, , continued-

74 Table 17. Page 2 of 2. Angler-days Lake trout Dolly Varden/Arctic char Arctic grayling Year Total Haul Road Total Haul Road Total Haul Road Total Haul Road ,739 2, ,579 2,561 12,523 8, ,032 4, ,027 3,244 7,035 5, ,032 2, , ,374 4, ,710 1,103 1, ,944 3, , ,014 2, ,352 1, , ,270 7, ,104 1, , , ,975 1, , ,142 6, ,599 3, ,426 1,210 9,293 6, ,905 1, ,165 1,187 10,452 5, ,834 3, ,010 2,718 11,484 10, ,931 1, ,689 5,365 5,076 2, ,057 2, ,973 3,072 14,600 12, ,030 1, ,809 1,892 6,384 2, ,641 2, ,974 1,429 3,153 1, Average 3,983 2, ,150 1,892 8,836 6, Average 3,861 2, ,129 2,847 9,599 7,040 Source: Alaska Sport Fishing Survey database [Internet] Anchorage, AK: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish (cited March 16, 2015). Available from: Catch

75 67 Figure 1. Map of the sport fish regions in Alaska and the 5 Region III management areas.